Florida Sheriff Praises K9s After Taking Bullets Meant For Deputies

Two K-9 cops were shot by a carjacking suspect over the weekend, and a top Florida law enforcement official says they may have taken the bullets meant for their handlers.

"There is no doubt that K-9 Ax and K-9 Endo took bullets that were meant for my deputies, because if the deputies would have gone into the woods, the first person to come into contact with [the suspect], without a doubt, would have been shot," Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood mentioned at a press conference Saturday afternoon.

According to a notice from the Volusia Sheriff's Office, officers responded to a call from a Lyft driver on reports of a carjacking in Daytona on Friday about 11:30 p.m. The Lyft driver told cops that he had picked up a passenger and driven him to the place he had requested. The passenger, however, allegedly "put a gun to his head and forced him to get out of his white Kia Sedona minivan before taking it" when the driver stopped at a "remote stretch" of Reed Ellis Road in the Osteen area. After 15 minutes, the Lyft driver called 911 for assistance.

The same news release said police tracked down the stolen vehicle, but the suspect – a man identified as Shedrick Singleton Jr., 21 — allegedly fled the scene. Singleton allegedly rushed into a wooded area to hide.

Deputy A.J. Davis and K-9 Ax approached the suspect approximately 10 minutes later, according to body camera footage provided by police. Authorities said the K-9 received a gunshot wound to the face after entering the wooded area searching for the culprit. The dog was sent to a nearby 24-hour veterinarian for treatment. Endo, a K-9, was also struck many times and transported to the vet for treatment.

The Sheriff's Office shared images in the Facebook community, updating them on their status. "These guys are right back on their feet," before thanking everyone for the support.

People said Endo was previously awarded the VSO Medal of Valor and the Purple Heart for the K-9's work intervening to a domestic abuse incident in 2015. According to Chitwood, Endo will most likely retire now following his previous injuries so that he may "enjoy his life."

The carjacking is still being investigated. Singleton's lawyer could not be reached right away.