In a Facebook post police say squads were dispatched to a home on the 2300 block of West 4th St. on reports of a domestic incident that had turned physical. Arriving officers soon learned that the male suspect had warrants out for his arrest and was refusing to surrender, KARE11 reported.
A decision was made to deploy K9 Luna inside the home to apprehend the suspect. However, police say the suspect opened fire, hitting the service dog. As a result, officers returned fire, retreated and set up a perimeter around the residence.
K9 Luna was rushed to an emergency vet clinic, where she died of her injuries. No other officers were injured in the exchange of gunfire.
As of 10:00 a.m. Friday the standoff was ongoing, and police were asking residents to stay away from the area.
K9 Luna is the second service dog that Officer/Handler Aaron Haller has lost, according to . His former partner, K9 Haas, was also killed in the line of duty just over two years ago. Haller was wounded during the same call, which also described a domestic disturbance.
Officer Haller was paired with Luna in the wake of Haas’ death, and the two went through a 13-week training academy in St. Paul before she was placed in service.
