Virginia Gov. Youngkin Vows to Punish Gang Members Who Fatally Stabbed K-9 Officer

Virginia Gov. Youngkin Vows to Punish Gang Members Who Fatally Stabbed K-9 Dog — *(Photo: Win McNamee/Getty Images)*

Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin vowed to hold a cell of the MS-13 criminal gang accountable for the killing of a five-year-old male correctional Belgian Malinois named Rivan, who was protecting his human colleague, Corrections Officer Kharmishia Phillip Fields, earlier this week.

Four inmates from the Sussex I State Prison - all from Latin America, and three of which have confirmed ties to MS-13 - were involved in a prison attack on Monday (Apr. 2) that left Rivan dead while protecting Fields at the scene.

Another inmate was attacked during the altercation, which prison staff eventually broke up. The inmate was taken to hospital for treatment before returning to the facility.

"God bless Rivan, a heroic K-9 who was killed in the line of duty in Virginia. These barbaric members of MS-13 will be held accountable," Youngkin said in a statement obtained by Fox News Digital.

The dog was killed after being "repeatedly stabbed and kicked by the inmates," who were all reportedly illegal immigrants at the time of their arrest, according to the Virginia Department of Corrections (VADOC).

The VADOC is mourning the line of duty death of Rivan, a K-9 killed by MS-13 gang members while heroically protecting its assigned Corrections Officer, staff, and inmates at Sussex I State Prison.

Read more: https://t.co/yA1H7wsJ2L pic.twitter.com/MQpJBRkgTK
— VADOC (@VADOC) April 3, 2024

"The VADOC is mourning the line of duty death of Rivan, a K-9 killed by MS-13 gang members while heroically protecting its assigned Corrections Officer, staff, and inmates at Sussex I State Prison," the department wrote on X, formerly Twitter, sharing a photo of the canine officer and the date of his death, euphemistically described as "End of Watch" in the security and emergency services community.

"The loss of Rivan is truly tragic, but it is important to remember he did not die in vain," VADOC Director Chad Dotson said following the attack. "He lost his life while potentially saving the lives of two people, his assigned Officer and an inmate. The VADOC will never forget Rivan's sacrifice."

Rivian, who joined VADOC in 2019, would have turned six on April 30.