NORCROSS — A police dog and a suspect were both killed Thursday after a chase in Norcross.
According to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, preliminary information indicates that at about 12:40 p.m., the Gwinnett County Police Department was patrolling the parking lot of the In-town Suites at 1990 Willow Trail Pkwy in Norcross.
An officer observed a man and a woman in the parking lot standing by a vehicle. The man and woman went into a room at the lodge before exiting the room. The officer ran the tag of the vehicle, and the results came back indicating the vehicle was stolen.
When the officer approached the man and woman about the stolen vehicle, they both ran from the parking lot in different directions. Gwinnett Police Department officers started a search of the area for the man and woman. K9 Blue assisted in the search.
The search spanned a large area and eventually K9 Blue detected a scent that led the officers back to the wooded area behind the lodge. K9 Blue was released toward the man.
According to the GBI, during the encounter, both K9 Blue and the man were shot. GBI spokeswoman Nelly Miles said it is not known at this time if K( Blue was shot by the police officer or the suspect.
K9 Blue was transported to a veterinarian facility in Buford where he subsequently died from a gunshot wound. The man was transported to the hospital where he was pronounced dead. The man has not been identified.
The female involved has not been located.
No other officers were injured.
The GBI will continue its independent investigation. Once completed, it will be turned over to the Gwinnett County District Attorney’s Office for review.
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