(October 3, 2005) -- In the overnight hours today (Oct. 3) roughly a mile north of LB City Hall, a known parolee armed with a handgun fled police, shot at pursuing officers, hid, refused to come out, police sent in a police dog, the suspect shot at SWAT officers...who in fear for their safety returned fire, killing the suspect.

The LBPD K-9 officer, "Ranger" (LBPD photo right), was struck once in the chest by gunfire.

He died in surgery at an animal care facility in Tustin.

"Ranger," a four year-old Malinois, had been with LBPD for two years.

In a written release, LBPD says officers were searching the residence of a known parolee in the 1200 block of Loma Vista Ave. (Drake Park area) at about 11:15 p.m. last night (Oct. 2) when the suspect ran from the rear of the residence. With officers in foot pursuit, the suspect ran into an alley in the 1300 block of Cedar Ave. There the suspect allegedly turned on the officers and using a handgun, shot at the officers.

LBPD established a perimeter and SWAT members conducted a search.

"At about 2:50 a.m., the suspect was found hiding under a porch at a residence in the 1300 block of Cedar Avenue," LBPD says, continuing "The suspect was ordered numerous times to surrender before a Police K-9 was sent in after him. The suspect fired at SWAT members who, fearing for their safety engaged the suspect in gunfire." The suspect, pronounced dead at the scene, was a Long Beach resident, in his 20's whom police identified as "a known gang member [who] was on active parole for assault with deadly weapon at the time of this incident."

Anyone with information about what took place is asked to contact the LBPD's Homicide Detail at (562) 570-7244.