Updated Friday, Aug. 14, 2015 at 4:33 p.m.: Clarification: An earlier spelling of the Toledo Police K-9’s name provided by the Wapakoneta training kennel, Von der Haus Gill German Shepherds, and the Toledo Police Department’s original social media posts misspelled the dog’s name.The K-9’s name is Falko.

The man who shot and killed Toledo police K-9 Falko — drawing gunshots from an officer before his death — intentionally fired at the dog, Toledo’s police chief said Thursday.

Chief George Kral identified Reginald Marshall, 27, of Cleveland, as the suspect who led police on a brief car chase in East Toledo and then barricaded himself inside an abandoned home.

Addressing reporters at the Safety Building, Chief Kral said Marshall was wanted for a May 21 fatal shooting in Cleveland. Responding officers Wednesday evening were unaware of his identity and attempted to stop him for a reported stolen vehicle.

RELATED ARTICLE: Toledo officers mourn loss of K-9 Falko

Police at 5:08 p.m. were alerted to the vehicle in the area of White Street and Navarre Avenue in East Toledo. The driver sped away from officers and struck another car. He parked outside a house in the 1100 block of Madeleine Street, Chief Kral said.

The passenger, whom police did not charge or name, followed officers’ orders and was immediately detained. Police then followed Marshall into the abandoned home at 1137 Earl St., he said.

Falko and his handler, Officer Samantha Snowberger, were among those who responded. Police warned the suspect that a K-9 would enter the enclosed area if he did not exit.

“While in the basement of the house, Officer Snowberger released Falko into the crawl space. It was at this point that shots were fired from inside the crawl space, striking Falko,” Chief Kral said.

Officer Simon Urbina then shot at Marshall. Additional officers left the house and established a perimeter, Chief Kral said. A SWAT member attempted negotiation for about 30 to 40 minutes before a robot entered.

The U.S. Marshal’s Service said the Cleveland Police Department wanted Marshall for a May 21 homicide. Police there believe he fatally shot a victim in the back of the head before fleeing.

It remains unclear if Marshall died from the officer’s gunshot or possibly a self-inflicted wound. The cause of death remains under police investigation. Falko and Marshall were taken to the Lucas County Coroner’s Office.

An autopsy on Marshall is scheduled for Friday. An examination of Falko’s remains will be performed by a veterinarian, said Dr. James Patrick, Lucas County coroner. The choice of veterinarian will be up to Toledo police.

An X-ray of Falko by the coroner’s office showed a single gunshot wound in the face, with the bullet lodged in the abdominal cavity, Dr. Patrick said.

Chief Kral said Toledo officers chased Marshall because he ran from the vehicle. Police consider Marshall’s passenger a witness and not culpable for Falko’s death. The chief would not comment how the two men knew each other.

Chief Kral declined to comment on the number of gunshots. He said he also could not recall another line-of-duty K-9 death.

Had Marshall survived, he could have faced a third-degree felony for killing a police dog.

Falko did not wear a bulletproof vest at the time of the shooting. Dogs overheat if they constantly wear vests, and in this case it would not have prevented his death, the chief said. 

Police responding to an emergency situation are also often unable to properly equip the vest on a K-9 in time, he said.

Officer Urbina will be off duty for a few days, but was not placed on administrative leave, the chief said.

Falko’s death has drawn a sizable outpouring of support, a response Chief Kral called humbling.

Officers also are wearing black bands across their badges in mourning. 

Flags will remain at half staff outside the Safety Building until noon today and for another 24 hours on the day Falko is laid to rest.

Falko’s body left the scene with a police escort as officers placed their hands over their hearts.

Falko, born March 29, 2013, in the Czech Republic, joined Toledo Police last year. Next month would have been his first anniversary patrolling the city.

Funeral arraignments are still pending. The chief said Falko will be honored as any other officer killed in the line of duty.

The Police Department’s Twitter account also posted a prayer that praises K-9s for their dedication to other officers and law enforcement. They search for people, drugs, and weapons, it read.

“I will lay down my life for you and expect nothing but love in return. I protect all officers with my life, and would gladly take a bullet in their place,” the prayer read.

Chief Kral said officials will decide with Officer Snowberger if she would like another K-9. He praised her as among the department's strongest officers.

“This is like any two-man crew losing their partner. We’re going to show her the respect and the dignity and we’re going to move forward based on her wishes,” Chief Kral said.

Mayor Paula Hicks-Hudson said city residents are grieving over Falko’s death and standing with the department.

“Unfortunately, last night we lost one of these fine members through the actions of someone who is not a part of our community,” the mayor said.

The police chief also addressed a recent crime wave, which includes seven homicides in the city this month and 14 this year.

He called the recent uptick an “aberration week” after a relatively quiet few months. The crimes are not connected, and police continue to work with residents.

“We haven’t seen this rise in crime in years, and I have no reason to believe this trend is going to continue,” he said.

A town hall forum about crime has been scheduled for 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Monday at the University of Toledo’s main campus health and human services building.

Contact Ryan Dunn at: rdunn@theblade.com, 419-724-6095, or on Twitter @rdunnblade.

First Published August 14, 2015, 4:00 a.m.