During a routine traffic stop yesterday evening in DeKalb County, Georgia, a rookie police officer was murdered in the line of duty.

DeKalb County police Chief James Conroy said yesterday evening that, “The police K-9, the K-9 officer and the cover team were able to track behind one of the businesses here on Candler Road. They found the suspect hiding behind one of the businesses. The suspect had a handgun, shot the police K-9,” Conroy said. “Several officers returned fire. The suspect received several gunshot wounds.”

Initially, they were both in critical condition and taken to a nearby hospital, but both succumbed to their injuries and died later that night.

WSB-TV Atlanta had the following to say,

A witness who was eating inside a nearby restaurant told Channel 2’s Tom Regan he heard at least six gunshots.

“When we heard the six gunshots, we don’t know … So we kind of ducked inside the restaurant. And then we decided to close the back door, and then I saw all the police officers start coming, and all the ambulances were coming and then we saw some firetrucks, and at that time, we realized something happened, because a lot of police officers were running this way,” witness Immy Ahmed told Regan.

The K-9 was also taken to a nearby veterinarian and is in critical condition at this time.

Police chief James Conroy ended his heartbreaking briefing on the incident by acknowledging and praising his officers, “I am very proud of the men and women of the police department,”

The DeKalb police officer shot earlier today has died. We are forever grateful for his service and sacrifice. Our prayers are with those who mourn. https://t.co/5kCPsxDici

— Brian Kemp (@BrianKempGA) December 14, 2018

Blue lives matter just as much as any other life. Life is precious and a gift. Too often, people decide they should be the determiner of when someone’s life ends. Now we have multiple families who are suffering loss and grieving. Just short of Christmas, there are people who will be celebrating without their son, or their brother, perhaps a child without their father now. It’s a very tragic thing indeed.