April 15, 2023 - Riverside County Sheriff’s Office officials reported on a deputy involved shooting and the death of K9 Rudy.
With great sorrow and a heavy heart, we announce the passing of K9 Rudy. Rudy succumbed to injuries tonight sustained during the search for a wanted suspect.
Just last month, Rudy and his handler Deputy Day received 1st place honors at the Las Vegas Metro Police K9 Trials in the Handler Protection Category.
On April 14, 2023, deputies were in the unincorporated area of Perris known as Mead Valley searching for a wanted felon. At approximately 4:47 P.M., a concerned citizen advised an unknown male and female were on their property, located near the 22200 block of River Road. When deputies arrived, they confirmed the male was the wanted felon and established a perimeter. A Sheriff’s K9 handler and his K9 partner, “Rudy,” responded to assist with the search.
During the search, K9 Rudy alerted to where the suspect was hiding. The suspect fired a handgun at deputies, striking K9 Rudy. Deputies gave commands to the suspects to surrender, however, they refused to comply. The Sheriff’s Aviation Unit observed the male and female running toward an occupied residence and could see the male was still armed with a handgun. As deputies approached the suspects, the male pointed the firearm at deputies, and a deputy-involved shooting occurred.
Deputies rendered medical aid to the suspect, but he was later pronounced deceased at the scene. The suspects name is being withheld pending notification of next of kin. K9 Rudy was transported to a local veterinary hospital where he later died. No deputies were injured during this incident and there are no outstanding suspects. The female was detained pending further investigation.
The involved deputies will be placed on paid administrative leave according to Department policy. The names of the involved deputies will also not be released at this time. An investigator from the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office assigned to the Riverside Sheriff’s Force Investigations Detail will lead this investigation. This is an active and ongoing investigation. Anyone with information regarding this incident is encouraged to contact Riverside County District Attorney Investigator Eric Crosson or Riverside County Sheriff’s Investigator Jarred Bishop at 951-955-2777.
Reporting Deputy: Sergeant Wenndy Brito-Gonzalez
File # PC231040046
Source & photo: Riverside County Sheriff’s Office
