CLAYTON COUNTY, Ga. — A Georgia State Patrol K-9 officer was killed in the line of duty Friday morning after a chase led to a SWAT standoff with a murder suspect. The suspect was also shot and killed by police.
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation said police were conducting a homicide investigation after a deadly shooting on Kendrick Road on Thursday. The suspect was spotted driving the victim’s vehicle on Riverside Road near Interstate 285.
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State Troopers and Clayton County Deputies joined police in assisting with a traffic stop.
The suspect initially pulled over, but as troopers tried to make contact, he drove away.
Troopers then chased the vehicle and were able to perform a PIT maneuver.
Officers tried to make contact with the driver, who was not cooperative.
The K-9 officer, Figo, was sent into the vehicle by his handler and the driver shot him.
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The driver, troopers and deputies all exchanged gunfire and the driver was killed at the scene.
K-9 officer Figo was rushed to an animal hospital in Sandy Springs, where he died.
Video showed Sandy Springs police shutting down the road outside of the the vet hospital and doctors heroically trying to save Figo after rushing him out of a medical helicopter.
The Georgia Police K9 Foundation has set up a memorial fund in Figo’s honor.
“*Contributions made will be made in honor of K9 Figo and to have his name placed on the Georgia Police K9 In the Line of Duty Death Memorial located at the Georgia Public Safety Training Center,” the foundation wrote on Facebook.
The GBI is conducting an independent investigation.
Neither the suspect or the initial victim have been identified.
This is the 93rd officer involved shooting the GBI has been asked to investigate in 2022.
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