Plymouth Township Officer Fatally Shot Responding To Hit-And-Run
PLYMOUTH TOWNSHIP, Pa. (CBS) -- A Plymouth Township police officer was shot and killed responding to a hit-and-run crash in Montgomery County Thursday evening.
The shooting happened at Conshohocken and Ernest Station roads in Plymouth Township at about 6 p.m.
Sources say K-9 Officer Brad Fox was pursuing a hit-and-run suspect, which led to a violent confrontation between the two.
Montgomery County District Attorney Risa Ferman confirmed that Officer Fox was shot in the head. He was rushed to Montgomery Hospital where he died. Officer Fox's K-9, Nick, was also shot, but survived and is fine, Ferman said.
Watch: Montgomery County DA Holds Press Conference:
Authorities say the suspect was killed, but due to an ongoing investigation, they would not disclose how he died or the circumstances that led to Thursday's violence.
Officer Fox is the first Plymouth Township officer killed in the line of duty, according to Ferman.
"There are just no words to express the magnitude of this tragedy for Officer Fox's family, for his wife, for his beautiful little girl, his law enforcement family and the Plymouth Police Department and the entire Montgomery County law enforcement family and community," Ferman said. "When I said to you he was a hero, I meant that."
Officer Fox served two tours in Iraq as a marine. A seven-year veteran of the police force, Officer Fox leaves behind a pregnant wife and a young daughter.
He would have turned 35 on Friday.
Funeral services are pending for Officer Fox.
A trust fund has been set up for the family of Officer Fox:
Fox Children's Fund
C/O Continental Bank
661 W. Germantown Pike
Plymouth Meeting, PA 19642
