YANCEY COUNTY, N.C. — Investigators are looking for the person who shot and killed a K-9 officer in western North Carolina.
The Yancey County Sheriff's Office said “Chris,” a Dutch Shepherd, was shot in his kennel and died from his injuries Wednesday at an animal hospital.
“I've lost a good partner,” Wilson said. “We've made numerous drug cases, found children that were lost, we've done everything together.”
The dog served with the sheriff's office for seven years.
No one feels the loss more than his partner, Deputy Austin Wilson.
Wilson believes a hunter may be responsible for his partner's death because the area is rural, but fellow deputies think Chris was targeted because he was shot inside his kennel, and Wilson has four other dogs that were not hurt.
Chris was 8 years old and was set to retire at the end of the year.
The county is now offering a $1,000 reward for information that leads to an arrest and conviction in the case.
Read more top trending stories on wsoctv.com:
- VIDEO: New Kids on the Block's Donnie Wahlberg drops $2k tip at Charlotte Waffle House
- Sinkhole closes northeast Charlotte road after water main break
- Little girl relaxes with pet python wrapped around her body
- HEAT ADVISORY: Heat index for some counties could hit 105 degrees
- CMPD officer charged after hitting, killing CPCC student at 100 mph
- WATCH: Keith Monday's Thursday weather outlook