Body Camera Video Released in Fatal Shooting of California Police K-9
Key Highlights
- The incident began with a traffic stop on the 5 Freeway involving a gang member with prior weapons arrests.
- During the chase, the suspect shot and killed K-9 Spike in dense brush, prompting a prolonged standoff with police.
- Police used an armored vehicle and water hose to flush the suspect from cover, leading to a final exchange of gunfire.
BURBANK, Calif. — The Burbank Police Department has released body camera and security footage from a deadly November shootout involving a documented gang member that resulted in the death of K-9 Spike, a 4-year-old Belgian Malinois.
The incident began Nov. 22 at approximately 6:40 p.m. when officers stopped a white SUV on the 5 Freeway on-ramp near the 2400 block of Buena Vista Street. During the stop, the driver admitted he did not have a valid license, and passenger Jose Domingo Ayala Alas, 37, reported he did not have identification, according to KCBS-TV.
Officers instructed both men to exit the vehicle while backup arrived. When asked whether he had any weapons, Alas denied possession and fled through a maintenance door along the freeway’s sound wall.
Officers discovered handgun ammunition inside the SUV and deployed a police helicopter and K-9 unit, Spike, to track Alas along a steep embankment. At around 8 p.m., Alas shot and killed Spike while the dog was locating him in dense brush, triggering an extended standoff. After approximately three hours, officers used an armored vehicle with a water hose to attempt to flush Alas from cover. During the maneuver, Alas fired at the vehicle before retreating. Officers returned fire after he pointed a handgun at them, resulting in Alas’ death. Investigators recovered an unserialized “ghost gun” at the scene.
Burbank police identified Alas as a documented gang member with multiple prior weapons-related arrests and a 2010 arrest for illegal reentry into the United States following deportation. The department emphasized that all officers involved followed established protocols during the incident.