DESOTO COUNTY, Miss — The DeSoto County Sheriff's Department held funeral services for their police dog, Luca, who investigators said was killed by a suspect who shot at deputies on Wednesday, Feb. 21.
The sheriff's department held services at Longview Point Baptist Church in Hernando, MS, on Wednesday, Feb. 28. You can watch the services HERE.
A procession was held following the services, with attendees lining up to salute the K9 on his final ride.
Luca was then buried in a private ceremony.
The Mississippi Bureau of Investigation (MBI) said the shooting happened near U.S. 61, South of MS 3 in Lake Cormorant, Mississippi, early Wednesday afternoon on Feb. 21.
Deputies with the sheriff’s department were involved in a car chase when the MBI said deputies performed a PIT maneuver on the suspect's car, which then came to a stop.
The MBI said the person then shot the police K-9 when the dog was released after the car came to a stop. That's when MBI said the deputies returned fire, shooting and killing the person. The deputies involved did not receive any serious physical injuries.
The K-9 received serious injuries and was treated at a nearby veterinary hospital, where the dog later died, according to the MBI and DeSoto County Sheriff's Department.