A man who was the target of a major manhunt was fatally shot by cops and discovered in a dumpster on Wednesday, but not a police K-9 dog and another officer.
Deputy and police K-9 shot by suspect
Sean Christopher Davis took the life of Deputy Jesus Vargas from the Brazoria County Sheriff’s Office during an attempt to serve him a warrant.
The incident occurred at about 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday at a Dollar Tree on Stella Link Road in Houston, Texas.
Law enforcement located Davis shortly after using a K-9. The dog led officers to a dumpster near the site where Deputy Vargas was killed.
Davis fired at the dog, injuring him, before being shot by police, according to a report by KHOU-TV.
Reports indicate that Davis had an extensive criminal record. This included a charge of aggravated sexual assault involving a teenage girl in April, as well as an aggravated assault charge from Brazoria County in October.
According to the Houston Chronicle, Davis was also sought for charges of aggravated sexual assault involving a family member, whom he allegedly assaulted at gunpoint in April of last year.
His criminal history dates back to 1990, when he was arrested for burglarizing a care and possession of a weapon, a charge which he was convicted of and released on parole.
In 1991, he was arrested for evading police and escaped from custody in 1992. Two years later he was convicted of aggravated assault and sentenced to 25 years in prison. He was paroled in 2015.
Police K-9 credited with saving lives
“The amazing aspect here, and people have to understand, the K-9 saved lives,” said T. Michael O’Connor, U.S. Marshal for the Southern District of Texas. “This guy had no intentions whatsoever to be taken alive.”
The incident that claimed Deputy Vargas’s life unfolded as he and other members of the Gulf Coast Violent Offenders Task Force were attempting to apprehend Davis. Vargas was fatally shot in the head.
“This afternoon, we lost a local hero, Deputy Sheriff Vargas from Missouri County Sheriff’s Office, working a U.S. Marshal Task Force, attempted to apprehend a repeat violent offender here on the streets of Houston, and he lost his life,” said Houston Mayor John Whitmire.
Deputy Vargas had been a dedicated member of law enforcement for 17 years. He is remembered as a husband and a father to three children.
The injured K-9, named Rocky, was immediately airlifted for emergency care at Westbury Animal Hospital.
Rocky sustained bullet wounds to his snout and neck/jaw area, injuries that narrowly missed critical areas such as his spine.
Dog expected to return to the force
Shockingly, veterinarians reported that Rocky is well on his way to making a full recovery. “He’s walking and eating already,” noted Dr. Jeff Chalkley, who treated Rocky.
“He’s the luckiest dog I’ve seen. I don’t know if you call that luck or the hand of god, but that bullet could have killed him instantly, and it didn’t.”
Dr. Chalkley shared that the bullet “narrowly missed” vital areas, calling the outcome “pretty amazing.”
He also attributed Rocky’s survival to the quick response of the Texas DPS helicopter, which allowed the dog to receive speedy medical attention he otherwise wouldn’t have survived without.
“God was there and directed that bullet away from his vital organs,” Dr. Chalkley added.
Rocky’s handler reportedly remained with him throughout the ordeal, refusing to leave the animal hospital until his partner is formally discharged.
According to KHOU 11, numerous officers stopped by the hospital to support Rocky and check on his condition.
“Everybody’s been supporting him here and making sure you know that he’s OK and the family, you know, he’s got a family with children and so this dog’s a part of the whole family, not just the trainer,” said Chief O’Connor.
“You know, we’re, we’ve got the machoness in us, but yet. When it comes to children, innocents and to animals, dogs, there’s a heartfelt feeling,” added O’Connor.
Dr. Chalkley voiced his optimism for Rocky’s future, forecasting a return to duty to “catch more bad guys and hopefully get rid of evil in the world.”
“He’s a hero, the dog is a hero,” Dr. Chalkley added.
