After a nine‑month investigation, First Alert 4 reports that the North County Police Cooperative has now confirmed a fellow officer shot and killed K‑9 Oya during a July foot pursuit tied to a stolen vehicle in Wellston. The department's written statement and the station's reporting, released Thursday, walk back earlier accounts and have intensified scrutiny of how the cooperative handled the incident from day one.
According to First Alert 4, the cooperative's statement says an officer fired his weapon after Oya would not release a bite and that the officer did so to "protect himself." Reporters were allowed to view body‑camera footage under departmental supervision but were barred from publishing it, the station notes, and the officer who pulled the trigger left the cooperative in November 2025.
What Happened on July 30
Early accounts described a chase that started when officers tried to stop a suspected stolen vehicle in the 6200 block of Wells Avenue in Wellston. The car crashed near Hodiamont and Wells, and two people ran from the scene on foot. K‑9 Oya was deployed to help track the fleeing suspects and was killed during the encounter, according to early chase coverage.
Internal Accounts and Records
Follow‑up reporting by First Alert 4 includes interviews and records that complicate the department's initial version of events. Trainer Justin Turley told the station the officer who shot Oya had previously been spoken to about actions around the dog, and that after the shooting the non‑handler officer said, "I'm sorry. I had to."
The station also cites court documents that outline probation violations and an arrest warrant tied to the pursuit. On Feb. 18, 2026, St. Louis County prosecutors charged Denzel C. Tucker with first‑degree tampering with a motor vehicle and aggravated fleeing in connection with the case, according to First Alert 4.
Memorials and Reaction
The cooperative held a memorial procession and a public service for Oya at James W. McGee Memorial Park on Aug. 12, 2025, and the K‑9 has since appeared in unit materials and calendars, reporting shows.
National K‑9 organizations list Oya's End of Watch as July 30, 2025 and feature tributes on their online honor walls, including K9s United and the Officer Down Memorial Page.
Confirmation that an officer fired the fatal shot has renewed calls for transparency from advocates and some community members, who argue that full body‑camera footage and clearer internal findings should be released. We will continue to track court filings and any additional records that become public, and update this story as the cooperative or official documents provide more information.
