K9 killed by gang members while trying to stop prison fight, officials say

Authorities in Virginia are mourning the loss of a K9 officer they said was killed by gang members at a state prison. The Virginia Department of Corrections said K9 Riven died while protecting his assigned corrections officer, staff, and other inmates at Sussex State Prison Tuesday. According to officials, three inmates affiliated with the MS-13 gang are housed at Sussex State Prison. The three inmates attacked another inmate in one of the facility’s housing units while a fourth inmate appeared to be supervising the assault. Corrections Officer Kharmishia Phillip Fields and her assigned K9 Riven responded to the attack. Officials said Rivan was repeatedly stabbed and kicked by the inmates and died at the prison. Phillip Fields, a trained K9 handler and 4-year veteran of the department, was not seriously injured. Prison staff broke up the attack, with the attacked inmate taken to a hospital for treatment before being returned to the facilities. Authorities said the inmates involved...