VIDEO: Beloved K-9 Officer ‘Jethro’ Grasps Nation’s Attention, Dies In Partner’s Arms
By Peggy Gallek and Ann Domeck, Fox 8 Canton, Ohio // January 11, 2016
Suspect Shot K-9 Officer 'Jethro' Three Times
ABOVE VIDEO: Jethro passed away just after 10 a.m. Sunday morning. (Fox 8 Video)
CANTON, OHIO (Fox8.com) – Fox 8 has a very sad update for everyone on Jethro. Our Peggy Gallek was contacted by Jethro’s handler a short while ago to tell us that Jethro passed away just after 10 a.m. Sunday morning.
The Police K9 Association said funeral details would be released Sunday night or Monday morning.
As of last night, Jethro was reported to have been resting but had sustained some brain trauma.
Jethro and a suspect were shot early Saturday morning, after officers were responding to an alarm at Fisher Foods on Harrison Avenue. Officers were searching the area when the suspect fired several shots. The department’s K-9 Jethro was struck 3 times in the face , shoulder, and neck area.
Officers did return fire. The suspect was shot one time in the leg and taken to the hospital with a non life-threatening injury.
He has been identified as Kelontre D. Barefield, 22.
Sunday morning, Canton police posted on their Facebook page that Jethro is still resting and that he did not need surgery. The bullets that hit him didn’t strike any vital organs, but one did hit him on the bridge of the nose, which caused brain trauma.
The Police K-9 Association posted Saturday night that it was very tough to get Jethro to actually rest, because “He’s just trying to beat this thing the way he’s used to, by fighting.” Jethro was given a sedative to help him rest..and he finally closed his eyes and slept.
Jethro’s partner was with him the entire time.
RIP Jethro. Good job.
Posted by Keith Riffle on Sunday, January 10, 2016
ABOVE VIDEO: ‘Jethro’ receives salute from his officers.
