A North Carolina police department is under intense scrutiny and public outrage after a K-9 police dog was shot and killed by a fellow officer during a chaotic traffic stop Wednesday — and now, the man who donated the dog is calling it what he believes it is: murder.
The incident began near a popular ice cream stand off U.S. Highway 74 in Wadesboro, when officers pulled over Lewis Davis for allegedly driving with a fictitious license plate. What started as a routine stop quickly escalated into a high-speed chase spanning over 20 miles, eventually ending in Mt. Gilead.
During the pursuit, officers deployed K-9 Blitz, a young German Shepherd, who was a retired drug dog donated just two months earlier to assist with narcotics detection. But what was meant to be a drug-sniffing asset ended in unimaginable tragedy when Blitz was shot dead by another officer.
The Wadesboro Police Department have refused to release the exact details surrounding Blitz’s death, further fueling public anger and speculation. The lack of transparency has outraged the dog’s donor, Josh Harrington, who said he gave K-9 Blitz to the Wadesboro Police Department free of charge on January 31, 2025, under strict conditions.
In a now-viral Facebook post, Harrington accused the department of violating their agreement and engaging in negligent behavior that led to Blitz’s death.
“THEY SHATTERED THIS IN LESS THAN 3 MONTHS,” Harrington wrote in all caps. “They put him into this situation and executed him for doing what he should not have been doing.”
Harrington emphasized that Blitz was never supposed to be used for suspect apprehension. His only role, according to the agreement, was narcotics detection to help the department build trust within the community and gain support from city council for future K-9 funding.
According to Harrington, Wadesboro PD ignored multiple free training opportunities he offered. Instead, they chose to conduct unauthorized bite training internally — without proper certification, supervision, or transparency.
According to internal sources and eyewitness accounts, during Davis’s apprehension, Blitz was deployed. After subduing Davis with a bite, the dog allegedly refused to release its grip, even after the handler attempted to intervene.
That’s when the unthinkable happened — Blitz turned and attacked his own handler, leading another officer to open fire on the K-9. Multiple gunshots were allegedly fired, killing Blitz at the scene. Both Davis and the handler were injured in the chaos.
Harrington claims the Wadesboro Police Chief lied directly to his face when confronted, and that deputies at the scene later confirmed the real events to him.
“This is not on the dog, it is on the agency. The rogue agency lied to me, and defrauded me. They are negligent and murdered a police K-9.”
The Wadesboro Police Department has yet to release an official statement or respond to multiple requests for comment.
This story is still developing. We will update as more information becomes available.
Everyone involved that signed the agreement including the Police Chief should be fired and held accountable for the events that day. Blitz wasn’t trained properly in suspect apprehension. Due to the department violating the agreement, Blitz lost his life. Just as important, it shows that agency can’t be trusted. I feel that is problematic when citizens feel that they can’t trust the police.
The department needs to fire the above mentioned parties. They need to learn that no one is above the law or following rules. I support the police 100% but not when there is a clear violation of law whether civil or criminal. This poor fur baby lost his life of no fault of his own. Shame on this department!!!
If a dog bites, he has to be put down. That’s street law.
According to Harrington, Wadesboro PD ignored multiple free training opportunities he offered. Instead, they chose to conduct unauthorized bite training internally — without proper certification, supervision, or transparency. AND young German Shepherd, who was a retired drug dog donated just two months earlier to assist with narcotics detection. But what was meant to be a drug-sniffing asset ended in unimaginable tragedy when Blitz was shot dead by another officer.
This article is BS. The dog didn’t “attack” the handler. He accidentally bit her hand while he went for his recall toy
Was you there?
Oh my gosh. Seriously? That is horrible!!