The dog, K9 Will, was hit by a bullet fired by his partner, Trooper Shaun Smith, police said. The bullet ricocheted and hit the dog in the stomach, police said.
At approximately 11 p.m. Monday, state police were assisting the Lewis County Sheriff's Office with a search warrant at a residence on Woodcreek Road in the Town of Greig, police said.
K9 Will was attacked by a pit bull dog that ran from the residence, police said.
From the preliminary investigation, it appears the bullet ricocheted off the gravel stone driveway and hit K9 Will in the stomach, police said.
The dog was transported to Countryside Veterinary Clinic in Lowville but he died there, police said.
The pit bull survived and was being treated by a veterinarian, said Jack Keller, a spokesman for the State Police. Asked if the owners of the pit bull face charges, he said the incident is under investigation.
K9 Will was a 3-year-old Belgian-Malinois who graduated from the State Police basic K9 school in April of 2017, police said
K9 Will was named after Trooper William G. Doyle, who was shot and killed by escapees from a mental institution on December14, 1967, police said.
(New York Upstate - Oct 25, 2017)
