K9 Sonic with the Placer County Sheriff's Office was shot in the leg just after 7 a.m. Friday after being sent into a Penryn home where an armed woman had barricaded herself overnight. Deputies returned fire moments later, striking 30-year-old Linda Mullennix, who was transported to a hospital and reported to be in stable condition. K9 Sonic was also rushed for emergency treatment, and the sheriff's office says he is expected to recover.
The standoff began late Thursday evening when Placer County Sheriff's Office detectives attempted to serve Mullennix with an arrest warrant for resisting or obstructing a peace officer, along with a judge-signed eviction order, according to a post from Placer Sheriff
on the home on Quarry Lane. Mullennix had a history of threatening neighbors, was known to possess a gun, and had been the subject of multiple calls for service, the department said. When a detective tried to speak with her outside, she ran back inside, then pointed a gun at him from a window and threatened to shoot him before barricading herself in the home and refusing to come out.
Hours of Negotiation Before Tactical Teams Moved In
Several deputies responded initially and tried to talk Mullennix into surrendering, and the sheriff's office's Special Enforcement Team and Crisis Negotiation Team arrived just after midnight to take over. For hours, negotiators tried reaching her by cell phone and a throw-phone while teams deployed interior drones. Mullennix destroyed multiple law enforcement drones throughout the night, and officers eventually turned to tear gas and non-lethal 40mm rounds to try to force her out, per the sheriff's office account relayed by Placer Sheriff.
The Rook was used during the standoff.
Suspect Found Hiding in a Refrigerator
Deputies eventually determined that Mullennix was hiding inside a refrigerator in the home. When the Special Enforcement Team moved in and attempted to call her out, K9 Sonic was deployed as she opened the fridge door — and Mullennix shot him. Deputies then returned fire, striking her. Residents in the surrounding area had already received shelter-in-place notifications as the standoff dragged into the morning.
K9 Sonic was taken to Loomis Basin Veterinary, according to the sheriff's office; Gold Mountain News reported that he was rushed to a veterinary hospital. The sheriff's office asked the community to pray for both Sonic and his handler as the dog received treatment for the leg wound.
The sheriff's office said it is following deputy-involved shooting protocols with the Placer County District Attorney's Office.
Possible Charges for Shooting a Police Dog
Mullennix also faces potential exposure under California Penal Code Section 600, which makes willfully shooting or seriously injuring a law enforcement animal a wobbler offense punishable by up to three years in prison, according to California Criminal Defense Lawyers. The statute also includes restitution for injury to the animal. Her precise charges have not been detailed, and it remains unclear what penalties she may ultimately face once released from the hospital.
The standoff unfolded in Penryn, a census-designated place with a 2026 population of 1,112, according to World Population Review.
Open questions remain about K9 Sonic's full recovery timeline and how much property damage the Quarry Lane home sustained during the hours-long tactical entry.
