The shooting happened after a bondsman contacted the sheriff's office for help locating and capture Bowers after he missed his court appearance. Authorities determined that Bowers was staying in a tent in a wooded area in Kathleen, and deputies, along with Ace, moved in to take him into custody.

"According to the bondsman — we've not had a chance to talk with the deputies yet — the deputies were summoning whoever was in this tent out, and at that time, the bondsman said, 'I heard rapid gunshots, and immediately I heard a volley of gunshots in return, and then everything went silent,'" said Grady.

Ace suffered an arterial wound to his leg and almost bled out, according to Grady. He was rushed to a veterinary clinic, and deputies set up a perimeter around the tent.

A SWAT unit finally went in after about two hours, and Bowers was found dead. He had been "shot a lot," Grady said, and a 9mm FN handgun was recovered. 

"Angel Bowers got exactly what he asked for. We obliged him," Grady said. "It's just the grace of God that our K-9 deputy and the other two backup deputies … (weren't) shot and killed."

"Tonight, (Ace) saved three deputies' lives," he added.