UPDATE: On Wednesday, the Delano Police Department posted on their Facebook that K9 Axel, who was shot in McFarland following a police pursuit, is now back home and recovering.
On Monday, the Kern County Sheriff's Office released additional information in connection to the shooting of a Delano Police Department K-9.
According to the KCSO, McFarland police attempted to conduct a traffic stop in the area of 3rd Street and W Perkins Avenue but the suspect vehicle refused to pull over. At that point, the McFarland police requested the help of the Delano Police Department.
The pursuit eventually ended at around 8:45 p.m. in the area of E. Sherwood Avenue and San Lucas Street in McFarland. However, the suspect refused to exit the vehicle.
A Delano Police Department K-9 was deployed in an attempt to apprehend the driver. However, the suspect pulled out a gun and fired multiple times, striking the K-9 officer. At that point, an officer-involved shooting resulted in the suspect being shot. It is not known at this time how many officers returned fire.
The suspect was identified as 38-year-old Eduardo Figueroa. He was transported to a local hospital for treatment with non-life-threatening injuries. He was booked on ten counts of felony assault with a firearm on a person, one felony count of willful harm to a peace officer’s dog with serious injury, several felony weapons charges, and felony participation in a criminal street gang. Figueroa is being held on $620,000 bail.
The Delano Police K-9 is in stable condition at a veterinary hospital.
