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Police: Suspect stabs K9 multiple times during SWAT standoff in downtown Las Vegas

K9 Enzo
LVMPD K9 Enzo
LVMPD K9 Enzo
SWAT standoff downtown Las Vegas
LVMPD K9 Enzo
SWAT standoff downtown Las Vegas
LVMPD K9 Enzo
Posted at 2:47 PM, Mar 29, 2024
and last updated 2024-04-03 20:09:44-04

April 3 - LVMPD said Enzo is going home and has been released from the the critical care center.

March 30 - LVMPD said Enzo is feeling better and are thanking veterinarians at VCA Decatur and Veterinary Emergency + Critical Care for taking care of him.

March 29 - Las Vegas police are asking for the public's prayers for the recovery of one of the department's K9s after it was stabbed during a SWAT standoff on Friday afternoon.

The incident began at approximately 1 p.m. as a call for a suicidal subject, said LVMPD Deputy Chief Branden Clarkson.

WATCH: Deputy Chief Branden Clarkson details the SWAT standoff that led to a police dog being stabbed:

[Police briefing] Las Vegas police K9 stabbed, seriously injured in SWAT standoff

Officers arriving at an apartment in the 1200 block of south Las Vegas Boulevard (just south of Charleston Boulevard in downtown Las Vegas) found the subject of the call barricaded inside. Clarkson noted the subject had started a small fire in the apartment.

SWAT, crisis negotiators and additional support, including a K9 unit, were called to the scene to assist officers as the situation developed into a barricade, Clarkson explained.

During the standoff, Clarkson says the subject came out from the apartment — with a knife in hand — and police noticed wounds that appeared to be self-inflicted.

When the person charged at officers, Clarkson says less-lethal options were used in an effort to take them into custody. That included a K9 officer named Enzo.

LVMPD K9 Enzo
Enzo, a Las Vegas police K-9, underwent surgery after he was stabbed multiple times during a SWAT standoff in downtown Las Vegas.

"While they were deploying the less-than-lethal munitions, the suspect began stabbing K9 Enzo multiple times," Clarkson said.

Through the use of less-lethal options, SWAT officers were "safely" able to take the suspect into custody.

K9 Enzo was "immediately" transported to an animal hospital where he was stabilized and had surgery, Clarkson said. Las Vegas police released an update at 7:30 p.m. saying Enzo is expected to live and will remain in the intensive care unit overnight to continue to receive treatment.

The suspect was likewise transported to an area hospital for treatment, underwent surgery, and was in critical condition, as of 7:30 p.m.

Clarkson asked the public for their thoughts and prayers for Enzo's recovery.

"What I would ask for you — K9 Enzo, he's currently in surgery, was stabbed multiple times, so any thoughts or prayers for our K9 officer to make sure he makes a full recovery."

Traffic in the area was shut down during the standoff and the immediate aftermath, but roads appeared to have reopened as of 4:30 p.m.

If you need to talk to someone, call the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by dialing 988 or text "HOME" to the Crisis Text Line at 741741.