Vader

Incident

K9 Vader was shot and killed during a vehicle pursuit of a murder suspect in a stolen vehicle in Sussex County at approximately 8:20 am.

A trooper initiated the pursuit after locating the stolen car traveling on I-95. The man driving the vehicle was wanted for the murder of one woman and the wounding of a second woman in Connecticut. The vehicle fled on the interstate as the driver opened fire at troopers. The pursuit continued to the area of Loco School Road and Bell Road, where the man continued to fire at troopers. One of the rounds struck K9 Vader, who was still in the backseat compart of the patrol car. Troopers returned fire, killing the suspect.

K9 Vader was a narcotics detection canine assigned to the Virginia State Police Drug Interdiction Task Force. He had served with the Virginia State Police for nine months.