Calif. police dog shot during deadly parole check

ANAHEIM, Calif. - Authorities were continuing to search Friday for a second suspect following an officer-involved shooting in Anaheim, Calif. that left one suspect dead and a beloved police dog injured, reports CBS Los Angeles.

Bruno, a 7-year-old sable German Shepherd and six-year veteran of the Anaheim Police Department, is reportedly recovering after emergency surgery to remove a bullet from his lung.

The dog was injured Thursday when two Anaheim police officers were performing a parole check.

Police say a man began shooting at the officers from inside a vehicle and another man took off running, according to the station.

The officers were not hit and put in a call for to Anaheim Police, who responded to the scene and set up a perimeter. A SWAT team and K9 unit were also called in to aid in the search for the suspect.

Authorities say Bruno guided his handler, Officer RJ Young, to the suspect, who fired shots, striking the dog in the jaw. Officers returned fire, fatally shooting the suspect.

Bruno was critically wounded after a bullet entered through his lung and became lodged in his chest, requiring surgeons to remove part of his damaged lung and repair his shattered jaw, reports the station.

He came out of surgery at Yorba Linda Regional Animal Hospital at approximately 9:15 p.m. Thursday and was expected to survive.

CBS Los Angeles reports the dog will have to wear a cast around his jaw and be fed through a feeding tube for the next two months.

Several officers held vigil at the facility Thursday night.

Anaheim Police K9 Association President Cheryl Timmons told the station she has known Bruno since he was a puppy, and officer Young couldn't be more close to his K9.

"They have one of the tightest relationships you could ever imagine. This is going to be a really rough one for RJ," she said.

Bruno goes home with Young every day and is said to constantly be at the side of his daughter, who was born three months ago.

He is the most senior police dog, according to the City of Anaheim. It remains unclear if he will return to duty or will retire, according to the station.

Meanwhile, police say one suspect remains at large. He is described as a Hispanic male, approximately 20-years-old, and was wearing all black at the time of the incident.