Police said a man stabbed a contractor near Space Coast Regional Airport and then stabbed a police dog before a K-9 officer shot the suspect Friday morning.
Police say the suspect, 24-year-old Zachary Penna, was on the run following a violent crime spree in South Florida.
While they don't know a motive yet, police do say a witness saw Penna stab a contractor at Space Coast Regional Airport during a robbery.
Police Officer John Cantalupo with the K-9 Unit confronted Penna, and during the confrontation the police dog, Jack, was stabbed. That's when they say Cantalupo opened fire, shooting Penna several times.
“This is indicative of many shootings," said Police Chief John Lau. That’s why you’ll see so many shots and people wonder why did they shoot so many times, because they keep on coming. This suspect was extremely aggressive.”
A witness and a police officer are being credited with saving the contractor's life.
Police dog Jack has been with Titusville PD's K-9 Unit for three years. (Titusville Police)
Jack was taken to a local veterinary hospital and is expected to be OK. Jack is been on Titusville police's K-9 unit for three years.
Cantalupo was placed on paid administrative leave, a standard practice in Florida after shootings involving a law enforcement officer.
Police say Penna is linked to the fatal stabbing of two men in a Greenacres home.