Shooting suspect killed fleeing police in West Covina

A murder suspect was shot and killed by West Covina police after he shot and wounded a police dog, authorities said Monday.

The initial shooting occurred on Badillo Street west of Sunset Avenue at 11:11 p.m. Sunday, said West Covina police Cpl. Rudy Lopez. Officers went to the location and found the victim, who was in his 20s, lying on the front lawn of the Church of the Nazarene. He died at the scene, according to the coroner’s office.

A witness “was able to provide us with the direction in which the suspect was last seen fleeing, and gave us a description of what he was wearing,” Lopez told NBC4. “When we called on the L.A. County sheriff’s helicopter to assist us, they located the subject on a rooftop … and the officers went to that location.

“The suspect jumped down off the roof onto the driveway, at which time one of our officers — who was a canine handler — deployed the dog (which) went toward the suspect,” Lopez said. “Once the dog got up to the suspect, the suspect fired a round in the direction of both the dog and the officers. The round struck the dog. The officers returned fire, striking the suspect.”

The suspect, who was in his 30s, died at the scene of the officer- involved shooting in the 1500 block of Elgenia Street, the coroner’s office reported.

The names of the dead men were withheld, pending notification of their relatives.

The wounded dog, named Reiko, was taken to an animal hospital for treatment. The 2-year-old Belgian Malinois began service with the West Covina Police Department in December.

Reiko was in stable condition following emergency surgery this morning, and was expected to undergo further surgery, police said.

Los Angeles County sheriff’s homicide detectives were summoned to assist in both shooting investigations, Lopez said.
—Staff and wire reports