Rico

Incident

K9 Rico was shot and killed while attempting to apprehend an attempted murder suspect.

On Tuesday, September 27, 2023, deputies with the Charleston County Sheriff's Office responded to a subject shooting at passing vehicles, wounding one victim. When deputies arrived at the scene the subject opened fire on them, wounding one deputy, before fleeing into a wooded area.

The following day the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division SWAT team tracked the suspect to a home on Mary Anne Point Road on John's Island. K9 Rico was deployed into the home after a robot was unable to access all areas of the house. The subject shot K9 Rico moments after he entered the home. The subject then attempted to exit the home through a window but was shot and killed by officers when he pointed a rifle at them.

K9 Rico had served with the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division for one year.