By Joanna Putman
Police1
LEE COUNTY, S.C. — A suspect has been killed following a confrontation with law enforcement that left one deputy wounded and a K-9 officer dead, WLTX reported.
The suspect was wanted in connection with the shooting of a McBee police officer during a traffic stop in Chesterfield County on Sept. 19. He was spotted in Lee County the next day, where he again opened fire on law enforcement officers during a pursuit, according to the report.
During the shootout, a deputy from the Lee County Sheriff’s Office was wounded, and K-9 officer Mikka was killed when the vehicle she was struck by bullets andcaught fire. According to Sheriff Simon, law enforcement was unable to reach Mikka because they were under heavy fire at the time.
“We are greatly saddened by the loss of K-9 Mikka, who was as much a member of our team as my Chief Deputy who was injured,” said Sheriff Simon.
He expressed gratitude to the community for their prayers and to neighboring agencies, including the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) and the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR), for their support, according to the report.
Authorities have not yet disclosed how the suspect died during the confrontation. The investigation remains ongoing.
