Gary, IN – Gary Police Department (GPD) K9 Falco was fatally shot in the line of duty while trying to apprehend a fleeing gunman on Thursday afternoon.

The incident occurred in the 1000-block of 35th Court shortly before 2 p.m. on July 13, WLS reported.

K9 Falco and his human partner, GPD Corporal Angel Lozano, were trying to apprehend a 29-year-old suspect wanted for criminal recklessness and aggravated battery, but the suspect allegedly fled.

Police said the duo chased him to the area of Tennessee Street and East 35th Court, where the suspect opened fire on them in the backyard of a residence, WLS reported.

Cpl. Lozano was not hit by the gunfire, but K9 Falco was mortally wounded.

The suspect was apprehended and his identity has not been released.

The Lake County Sheriff’s Department is handling the ongoing investigation, according to WLS.

Gary Police Chief Anthony Titus spoke about K9 Falco’s tragic death during a press conference at the GPD on Thursday night, the Times of Northwest Indiana reported.

“This department and the citizens of Gary lost a true hero today,” Chief Titus said. “Unfortunately, shots fired is an all-familiar phrase we hear on our airways. It is ‘officer down’ we’ll never get used to.”

K9 Falco, a 10-year-old shepherd/Belgian Malinois, served the GPD for eight years, WLS reported.

He was responsible for the apprehensions of about 1,000 violent suspects and heroically located endangered adults and missing children during his lengthy career.

Chief Titus said K9 Falco also helped his fellow officers seize a large quantity of drugs and firearms from the streets and was an asset to other law enforcement agencies in the area, the Times of Northwest Indiana reported.

“We mourn the passing of a true hero who gave his life in the line of duty, serving and protecting our city with unwavering loyalty and dedication,” Gary Deputy Mayor Trent McCain said in a press release.

Gary Police Department K9 Falco was killed yesterday after being shot during a foot pursuit in northwest Indiana. A suspect is in custody and the officer involved in the foot pursuit was not injured.

Falco was 10 years old and served Gary PD for eight of those years. pic.twitter.com/2XWb5VwjAX

— WRTV Indianapolis (@wrtv) July 14, 2023

RIP. Indiana K9 Falco was murdered when he was shot and killed while apprehending a fleeing suspect. STOP SHOOTING MY POLICE OFFICERS!!! #rip #hero #murdered #K9Falco #GaryPoliceDepartment #eow #thinblueline #bluelivesmatter #police #protectingtheblue #OPLive pic.twitter.com/ch7dalqa5X

— Protecting the Blue (@protectingblue) July 13, 2023

GARY, IN: A Police K9, FALCO was killed in the line of duty Thursday afternoon during a foot pursuit. FALCO was fatally shot. Video available @CapturedNews #BREAKINGNEWS #GARY #K9 #OFFICER #DOWN #FALCO #NWI pic.twitter.com/25G0sWSRuj

— 219 BREAKING NEWS (@219breakingnews) July 13, 2023

Our thoughts and prayers are with the Gary Police Department and Cpl. Lozano in the loss of K9 Falco.