Murder suspect killed, K-9 injured in California police-involved shooting

WEST COVINA, Calif. -- Police in California say a murder suspect was killed by officers after he shot and injured a police K-9 late Sunday night.

Officers responded to a shooting just after 11 p.m. and found a body in front of a church on the 1400 block of West Badillo Street.

A witness was able to provide information to police about the shooting suspect, who was last seen running westbound. Officers set up a perimeter and called in a sheriff's department helicopter to search for the suspect. Authorities then spotted a man matching the suspect's description on a rooftop on the 1500 block East Elgenia Street.

"The suspect jumped down off the rooftop. When he got into the driveway, we sent one of our K-9s, deployed toward the suspect," said Cpl. Rudy Lopez with the West Covina Police Department. "When the dog got up to the suspect...the suspect opened fire with a handgun in the direction of both the K-9 and the officers. The K-9 was struck. The officers returned fire, striking the suspect."

Lopez said Reiko, the police K-9, was undergoing surgery at a hospital in Los Angeles. His condition was not immediately known.

"Reiko has been with us for a year, excellent K-9. The handler is quite upset...very distraught," said Lopez.

Both shootings remain under investigation. Anyone with information was asked to contact the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department's Homicide Bureau at (323) 890-5500.