Photo: Police K-9 Association, Canton, Ohio
CANTON, Ohio (KTVU) - Hundreds of people attended a somber public memorial Thursday honoring a K9 officer who died after a shootout with in a grocery store in Ohio. Governor John Kasich ordered flags to be lowered to half staff in K9 officer Jethro's honor.
Police were checking out a report of a burglary at the store Saturday morning when someone started shooting. Jethro was shot three times, and while none of the bullets hit his bones or vital organs, one struck him right in the muzzle.
The Canton Police K-9 Association posted on their Facebook page, "Luckily the round he took to the bridge of his muzzle didn't penetrate but is the equivalent of getting hit in the forehead with a hammer." They updated his progress throughout the night on Facebook until a sad update late Sunday night.
Jethro's handler Ryan was with him until the end, sleeping alongside him as he fought to recover. The K9 Association posted that Jethro fought to the end.
The 22-year-old accused of shooting Jethro was shot in the leg; he has been arrested and is expected to be arraigned on Friday.