Knightdale cop accidentally shoots and kills Wake County’s longest-serving K-9

A Wake County sheriff’s dog was accidentally shot and killed by a Knightdale police officer after a traffic stop early Friday morning, officials said.

K9 Santos, a German shepherd, was shot around 12:30 a.m. while searching for a suspect after the stop on North Smithfield Road.

“At some point during the track, the Knightdale officer unintentionally fired their weapon, striking the deputy’s K9,” the Knightdale Police Department said. in a statement.

Santos was rushed to the emergency clinic at N.C. State University’s Veterinary Hospital.

“Regrettably, the K9 did not survive,” the police statement said.

The officer, whose name has not been released, is “very distraught,” the statement added.

The officer has been in law enforcement for 18 months and is on leave pending an internal investigation, according to the Knightdale Police Department.

The suspect pulled over before the dog was shot was identified as Ravon Williams, 21, of Knightdale, police said.

He faces charges of resisting an officer, fictitious information to an officer, and no operator’s license, police said.

The longest-serving K9

Santos was known for “protecting his handler with a fierce determination,” according to the statement from the Sheriff’s Office.

He began serving in Wake County in 2016, making him the longest-serving K9 in the department.

“On behalf of the Wake County Board of Commissioners, I extend our deepest sympathies to the Wake County Sheriff’s Office at the passing of Canine Deputy Santos this morning in the line of duty,” Commission Chair Shinica Thomas said in a statement.

“He was so much more than a dog; he was the Sheriff’s Office’s longest-serving K9 officer, a beloved partner to his handler, and a dedicated member of the canine unit who trained for and assisted with search operations,” Thomas said. “Our hearts go out to the law enforcement community today, and our thoughts and prayers are with them in the days ahead as they grieve this tragic loss.”

This story was originally published May 26, 2023 at 9:22 AM.