A heroic K-9 has been killed by members of the Mara Salvatrucha gang at Sussex I State Prison, the Virginia Department of Corrections (VADOC) announced on April 3.
The K-9, a Belgian Malinois named Rivan, was stabbed to death by three members of the gang, better known as MS-13, while “heroically protecting its assigned corrections officer, staff, and inmates,” officials said.
The incident occurred on April 2 when the gang “viciously attacked” another inmate within one of the facility’s housing units, according to the VADOC.
A fourth inmate also appeared to be supervising the brutal assault, officials said.
Corrections officer Kharmishia Phillip Fields, who has been with the VADOC for four years, was on duty in the area at the time of the attack along with her assigned K-9 Rivan.
Ms. Fields and Rivan responded to stop the attack, protect the inmates, and “restore order,” officials said.
Due to her training and Rivan’s “courageous actions,” Ms. Fields did not sustain any serious injuries, according to the VADOC.
Inmates Were in the United States Illegally
The attacked inmate was taken to a local hospital where his injuries were treated before later being returned to the facility. The extent of the inmate’s injuries is not clear.All of the inmates involved in the attack are from El Salvador and Guatemala, and were in the United States illegally at the time of their arrest and conviction, officials said.
They were all facing a string of varying charges including first-degree homicide, attempted rape, kidnapping/abduction, malicious wounding, use of a firearm in the commission of a felony, child pornography charges, grand larceny, and drug possession.
At least three of them are confirmed to be members of MS-13, which was formed by Salvadoran immigrants who fled to the United States amid civil war in their home country, according to the Department of Justice (DOJ).
The gang is notorious for its use of violence and its members have been involved in rapes, witness intimidation, the illegal trafficking of stolen vehicles from the United States to Central America, weapons smuggling, and illegal firearm sales, the DOJ states.
Virginia Governor Vows to Hold ‘Barbaric’ Gang Members Accountable
An investigation into the incident remains ongoing. The VADOC said it intends to pursue charges against the inmates “to the fullest extent of the law.”“The safety of our corrections team is our agency’s top priority,” VADOC director Chad Dotson said. “Officer Phillip Fields has the agency’s full support during this difficult time and I personally wish her well in her recovery. The heroics she displayed during this brutal assault demonstrate her courage, her commitment to public safety, and her care for the safety of the inmate population. I thank her for her service to the Commonwealth.”
“The loss of Rivan is truly tragic, but it is important to remember he did not die in vain.” Mr. Dotson continued. “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.”
Rivan, who joined the VADOC in 2019, would have turned six on April 30. The dog came from a K-9 family with a “strong public safety tradition,” officials said, noting his father worked for a police department in Southwest Virginia and his mother worked for the Secret Service.
The VADOC said it is currently organizing a memorial service for Rivan and will share further details soon.
Rivan’s death has also caught the attention of Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R-Va.). He has vowed to hold the “barbaric” members of the gang accountable for their actions.
