K-9 Officer Rocky Gets Shot After Locating Suspected Cop Killer In Dumpster

A K-9 officer was shot this week after he used his sense of smell to locate a suspected killer of a Houston sheriff’s deputy.

K-9 Officer Rocky, a 1-year-old Belgian Malinois who is assigned to the U.S. Marshalls, was shot multiple times on January 15 after finding Robert Lee Davis, the man suspected of killing Brazoria County Sheriff’s Deputy Jesus Vargas.

Rocky found Davis hiding in a dumpster.

When officers opened the dumpster, Rocky jumped into it, resulting in Davis opening fire on Rocky.

Officers immediately returned fire and killed Davis.

Rocky is one of our K9 heroes.

He was shot in the line of duty.

Keep Rocky in your prayers. https://t.co/kNyJhUVO4t

— Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) January 16, 2025

Per People:

A K-9 officer was hit by gunfire and wounded this week after he used his sense of smell to locate the suspected killer of a sheriff’s deputy in Houston, Texas, authorities say.

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Rocky, a 1-year-old Belgian Malinois assigned to the U.S. Marshals Service, sustained multiple gunshot wounds on Jan. 15 after alerting officers to the location of Robert Lee Davis, who was suspected of killing Brazoria County Sheriff’s Deputy Jesus Vargas earlier in the day.

Davis was hiding in a dumpster near the site of the shooting, an alley outside a strip mall on Stella Link Road in Houston, law enforcement said at a press conference Wednesday evening.

Just before 5 p.m., Rocky alerted law enforcement sweeping the area to the dumpster, said Houston Police Chief Noe Diaz. When officers opened it up, Rocky jumped inside and found Davis hiding under “tons” of trash, said Diaz.

The suspect immediately started shooting, striking Rocky twice before officers could return fire, said Diaz. Davis was hit multiple times and succumbed to his injuries in the dumpster.

Take a look:

This is the moment when Rocky was being loaded onto the DPS chopper. Rocky is a U.S. Marshall K9 who was shot after he sniffed a suspect in dumpster. He was expected to survive. And is being called a hero. Story tonight on @KHOU at 10. https://t.co/LWI7U7KyaW pic.twitter.com/SuoPPawmBz

— Anayeli Ruiz KHOU (@AnayeliNews) January 16, 2025

Per ABC 13 News:

From a hero who was lost, we turn to the hero we nearly lost. A federal K-9 was injured during a shootout with a fugitive at the center of a “Blue Alert.”

The Houston Police Department said Robert Lee Davis, who is accused of shooting and killing Brazoria County Deputy Jesus Vargas, was shot to death, ending an hours-long manhunt.

Law enforcement is crediting 1-year-old U.S. Marshal K-9 Rocky, leading them to Davis’ hideout.

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Sources told Eyewitness News that Davis was hiding in a dumpster in an alleyway for about five hours on Stella Link Road, where Vargas was killed.

Rocky followed Davis’ scent and began fearlessly digging in the dumpster, alerting authorities, which led to Davis’ discovery.