(Photo from Anderson Police Dept.)

Anderson Police K9 Magnum has died after being shot Saturday by a bank robbery suspect. Officers responded to a PNC Bank in the 2900 block of Nichol Avenue in Anderson just after 9 a.m. Saturday after an armed man fled the scene on a bicycle.

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K9 Magnum tracked the suspect, Joseph Turner, into a soybean field. Officers released Magnum and Turner opened fire, hitting Magnum in the face. Magnum was rushed into surgery, but had to be put down early Monday morning. Turner was arrested shortly after the shooting.

Anderson Police Detective Joel Sandefur says the mood around the department is heavy-hearted and officers are trying to cope with the loss. Magnum is the second Anderson K9 to be killed in the line of duty within a month, Kilo was killed by Kenneth Bailey in a shooting in Pendleton. Bailey also killed civilian John Neil Shull and injured Officer Marty Dulworth.

Detective Joel Sandefur says losing two K9's has a financial impact of $20-25,000, but adds that organizations have already made donations to help rebuild the K9 program.