K-9 shot dead in northeast El Paso raid was with Border Patrol unit for just a year

EL PASO, Texas -- The U.S. Border Patrol's tactical unit is mourning the loss of one of their own K-9 agents after he was shot and killed during a confrontation in northeast El Paso Tuesday morning.

Bulder was a 5-year-old Belgian Malinois that had been serving with a Special Border Patrol Tactical unit for a year.

Bulder was with agents while they were attempting to execute a search and arrest warrant to a 62-year-old suspect who had charges of illegal possession and manufacturing of firearms.

During the execution of the arrest warrant, the suspect was confronted in the backyard of a residence in the 4500 block of Capricorn Drive.

At that time, the suspect shot and killed Bulder and continued shooting at the agents as well. Agents returned fire and the suspect was shot and died on the scene.

Tim Sullivan, Chief Patrol Agent with the U.S. Border Special Operations, group shared a photo of Bulder with ABC-7 and wrote in his email, "Please let the public know that this K-9 agent and his partner, without a doubt, saved other agents from significant injury and possibly death."

The loss of Bulder will be treated in much the same way that the loss of a human police officer will be treated and he will be given a burial with honors in the coming days, officials said.