HOUSTON — A U.S. Marshal K-9 officer named Rocky is expected to make a full recovery after being shot multiple times by the suspect in a Houston officer’s killing.

What You Need To Know

  • A wounded U.S. Marshal K-9 officer  will make a full recovery after being shot twice, in the neck and nose

  • The suspect in a Houston police officer's killing shot Rocky after the 1-and-a-half-year-old Belgian Malinois found him hiding in a dumpster

  • The suspect, Robert Lee Davis, aka Sean Christopher Davis, was fatally shot by police

  • Rocky has gained national attention for his heroism

The suspect, 56-year-old Robert Lee Davis, also known as Sean Christopher Davis, was wanted in the fatal shooting of 17-year Brazoria County Sheriff’s Department veteran Jesus Vargas. Vargas was attempting to serve an arrest warrant Wednesday morning in when the suspect opened fire and fled the scene.

The incident set off a large-scale search that included helicopters, K-9 units and multiple law enforcement agencies.

Davis, who evaded officers for hours, was found hiding under trash in a dumpster near the crime scene. Rocky alerted officers to his whereabouts and Davis shot the 1-and-a-half-year-old Belgian Malinois twice, in his neck and nose. Police returned fire, killing Davis

Rocky was airlifted to a Houston animal hospital, where he is recovering from his wounds. He is expected to make a full recovery and will be released in the coming days, according to Harris County Precinct 4 Constable Mark Herman.

“His handler has not left his side. Rocky saved lives yesterday!! #prayersanswered,” Herman said in a Facebook post on Thursday.

Rocky has gained national attention for his heroic actions. Video of police carrying Rocky to a helicopter to receive medical attention has gone viral.