Police K-9 killed during pursuit of 3 teens who’ve now been charged: ‘It’s a war out there’

A police dog in South Carolina has been shot dead during a pursuit and now three teenagers are under arrest.

Bumi the police K-9 was killed on Dec. 23 as deputies with the Richland County Sheriff’s Department chased a car that was believed to be stolen, the agency said Tuesday. Following a “short pursuit” around 2:30 a.m., deputies used stop sticks that caused the car to crash, the department said in a news release.

K-9 specialist Alan Ware and Bumi (pronounced BOO’-me) began chasing two suspects while a third was immediately detained, the agency said, adding that one of the two fleeing boys fired a gun, hitting the dog twice.

Bumi, a 4-year-old Belgian Malinois/German shepherd mix, was rushed to the vet but died. No one else was hurt.

Two bullets recovered from K-9’s chest

In a press conference on Monday, Sheriff Leon Lott said that two bullets were recovered from inside Bumi’s chest, adding that though the dog was wearing a protective vest, “it doesn’t cover up underneath.”

Lott said that young people have “total lack of respect for human life or even for a police dog,” and that “there’s no hesitation in shooting and using a gun.”

He continued to say that “there is no reason juveniles should be out at 2:30 in the morning” and that “parents need to step up and have accountability.”

Bumi was the third K9 the sheriff’s department has lost this year.

“It’s a war out there,” Lott said after a processional for the dog Friday, The State reported. “Our Deputy (Alan) Ware is suffering, his family and his kids are suffering. That dog was part of their family. Now it’s just been snatched away for no reason whatsoever.”

Teen suspects apprehended, 2 plead guilty

The sheriff’s office said they believe it was a 13-year-old suspect who fired the shots that killed Bumi. They arrested him later that day at his home without incident.

The department says that a 17-year-old who fled with the 13-year-old was arrested Saturday after his mother contacted the sheriff’s department and turned him in. He was taken to the sheriff’s department headquarters by his parents, authorities said, where he was taken into custody.

A 16-year-old was arrested immediately after the car crashed.

The 13-year-old has pleaded guilty to killing a police dog, possessing a weapon under 18 and malicious injury to personal property over $10,000, while an attempted murder charge was downgraded to assault and battery, the sheriff’s department said. He is expected to be sentenced on Feb. 5, Lott said during the news conference.

The 16-year-old pleaded guilty to obstruction of justice and was sentenced to 12 months of probation, the sheriff’s department said.

The 17-year-old remains in detention and will be charged as an adult, Lott said. He faces charges of grand larceny, failure to stop for blue lights, possession of a weapon under 18, and unlawful carry, among others. It’s unclear whether he has entered a plea or obtained an attorney.

“Our investigators worked tirelessly to ensure the rapid capture of all three suspects,” Lott said in a statement Monday. “This has been a heartbreaking year for our K9 team and entire department. I am proud of our deputies for continuing to compassionately serve our community despite being the targets of increased violence.”

Saman Shafiq is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at sshafiq@gannett.com and follow her on X and Instagram @saman_shafiq7.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: South Carolina police K-9 killed during pursuit of 3 teenagers