K-9 shot and killed while chasing suspect in Michigan

ST. CLAIR SHORES, Mich (WJBK) - A member of the St. Clair Shores Police Department in Michigan was shot and killed over the weekend. A K9 officer was chasing a suspect when he was fatally shot.

The St. Clair Shores Police Department received a call around 6:30 p.m. Sunday from Lakeland Manor Banquet Hall about a man outside with a gun. Initial information from caller said the suspect was a black man wearing a white shirt and armed with a long gun outside of the hall, where around 70 people inside were attending a baby shower.

Once police arrived, they saw a person who matched the description and confronted the man. We're told the suspect ignored police and wouldn't put down the gun, and tried to run away.

That's when officers deployed K9 officer Axe, who went after the suspect. The suspect began shooting at the dog, who was hit. Officers returned fire at the suspect, who was also hit. He was sent to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead.

According to St. Clair Shores Mayor Pro-Team Candice Rusie, K9 Axe was shot and pronounced dead by the veterinarian. Axe was 4 years old and started with the St. Clair Police Department back in 2016.

"All of a sudden I heard, what I thought were fireworks at first, I knew right away once I heard the rounds going off that it was definitely not fireworks. It's bizarre, a lot of people that live around here have been here for a pretty long time, it's generally a pretty safe area so people are really shocked to see this sort of thing go on here," said Nick Altadonna, who lives nearby.

The Macomb County Sheriff's Department is taking over the investigation. On Monday, the department identified the man involved as 29-year-old Theoddeus Gray of Detroit.

This is a developing story. Stay with FOX 2 for updates.