Fatal shooting after man stabs K9, charges at police

PAW PAW, Mich. -- A man is dead after charging at Van Buren County police with a knife and stabbing one of the unit’s K9’s.

It happened in the 300 block of North State Street in Gobles Monday night.

Officers said it stemmed from a domestic abuse call.

At 7:30 p.m., officers were dispatched to a home on that street and discovered the suspect, 39-year-old Jacob Matthew Bender, already had outstanding warrants. 

Once they were authorized to go into the home, they discovered Bender in a crawl space.

When K9 Kuno tried to get Bender out, he was stabbed multiple times. 

Then, Bender charged at officers with a knife.

Despite officers first using a taser, he wasn’t subdued, forcing them to shoot. 

They say life-saving measures were attempted, but Bender died from his injuries.

K9 Kuno had emergency surgery and is now back with his handler recovering.

ABC57 will stay on this story and update you as we learn more.