Police dog killed, store clerk shot, Wes, the K-9, shot by deputy 
A Greenville County Sheriff's Office K-9 was killed after a deputy mistakenly shot the dog while trying to arrest a suspect involved in a shooting that injured a store clerk, Sheriff Steve Loftis said in a statement today. The K-9, named "Wes," was released to help in the arrest but began to bite the leg of the deputy, who "feared for his safety" and did not know the dog had been released, Loftis said. Darkness made it difficult for the deputy to see the dog, Loftis said. Sheriff's deputies responded to a shooting in which a convenience store clerk was shot by a man arguing with another woman this morning. Antwaun Demarcus Whitmire, 26, was arrested charged in the incident, according to Loftis and jail records. The incident began shortly before 5 a.m. when a man and woman were arguing in a car at the Hot Spot convenience store on 3000 W. Blue Ridge Drive, Lt. Shea Smith said. The woman went into the store to make a telephone call, and the man came in shortly afterward and attempted to drag her back to the car, Smith said. The woman was able to escape and ran back inside the store. Smith said the man then got a handgun from his car, went into the store and fired several shots. The store clerk was struck by at least one of the bullets, Smith said. He said she was transported to Greenville Memorial Hospital and was treated and released with non life-threatening injuries. Smith said the suspect fled the store on foot, but police were able to learn where he lived. Several units, including the K-9 unit, went to the hosue on Alice Avenue where they had been told the suspect lived. Police chased the suspect on foot, and during the struggle, the K-9 was shot, Smith said. The suspect was not injured. Deputies rushed "Wes" to Upstate Veterinary Specialist, where the dog died. "Wes" was a five year old Dutch Shepherd.  The dog served the Sheriff's Office for three years.  
submitted by Jim Cortina, Dir. CPWDA