At approximately 11:00 p.m. on Monday, October 23, 2017, the New York State Police were assisting the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office with a search warrant at a residence on Woodcreek Road in the Town of Greig.
Trooper Shaun R. Smith, along with his partner, K9 Will, were at the residence to assist. Upon execution of the warrant, a pit bull dog ran from the residence and began to attack K9 Will.
Trooper Smith discharged one round from his Division-issued handgun, striking the leg of the pit bull.
From the preliminary investigation, it appears the bullet then ricocheted off the gravel stone driveway, and entered the stomach of K9 Will.
K9 Will was immediately transported to Countryside Veterinary Clinic in Lowville where he succumbed to his injury.
K9 Will was a 3-year-old Belgian-Malinois and graduated from the State Police basic K9 school in April of 2017.
K9 Will was named after Trooper William G. Doyle, who was shot and killed by escapees from a mental institution on December14, 1967.
This incident remains under investigation.
