Tupelo police K9 found dead after search

MOOREVILLE, Miss. – Tupelo Police Department's K-9 Officer "Alec," who had been reported missing, has been found dead.

Capt. Chuck McDougald says the 10-year-old Belgian Malinois was found early Tuesday in the Mooreville/Auburn area of Lee County, dead from injuries consistent with being struck by a vehicle.

WTVA-TV reports the dog escaped his enclosure Sunday by going through a fence. His handler, Officer Tyler Cook, had built a new fence to prevent just that after Alec had tried to escape before.

McDougald says Alec's burial will be handled privately by the family.

Tupelo Police expressed appreciation to the community for its help in the search for the animal.

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Officer Cook and K9 officer Alec are at the center of the Antwun Shumpert fatal shooting case. The shooting occurred  in June after a vehicle driven by Shumpert was stopped by Tupelo police. Shumpert exited the vehicle and fled. Cook and Alec were called for backup.

Tupelo city officials claim, based on Cook's statement, that Alec bit Shumpert on the arm and Shumpert punched the dog in the head, causing it to release his arm. Carlos Moore, the lawyer for the Shumpert family, claims Alec bit Shumpert in the groin.

In his report, Officer Cook said Shumpert attacked him, knocking him down and punching him repeatedly in the face until the officer feared he would lose consciousness. Cook said he then shot Shumpert in self-defense.

Moore has requested an autopsy for Alec, WTVA reported.