A Maine man was recently killed by authorities after fatally shooting a Maine State Police (MSP) K-9 named “Preacher.” According to reports, Preacher, a 4-year-old Belgian Malinois, died on Monday as a result of a tactical team operation in Portage. The incident pertained to a domestic dispute which escalated into an armed conflict.
Reportedly, 29-year-old Steven Righini shot an Aroostook deputy in what became a several-hour-long standoff with police. At around 8 p.m., Righini attempted to flee the home, which led to Preacher being deployed to apprehend him. At this point, authorities say Preacher was shot in the abdomen, after which Sgt. Jonathan Russell, the K-9’s handler, and specialist Andrew Hardy returned fire on Righini. The suspect was pronounced dead at the scene.
Preacher was rushed to an emergency veterinary clinic in Presque Isle, where he underwent surgery. However, the K-9 succumbed to his injuries sustained from the shooting and died early Tuesday morning. Preacher was surrounded by Russell and other team members when he died. Preacher was remembered as a hero.
“K-9 Preacher was more than just a working dog—he was a dedicated partner, a protector, and a hero,” MSP Col. William Ross said about the beloved K-9. “Most people will never understand the sacrifices made by our K-9 teams, but last night, Preacher made the ultimate sacrifice to protect others from harm.” Similarly, the MSP wrote, “The Maine State Police extends its heartfelt condolences to Sgt. Jonathan Russell and the entire K-9 Unit. The loss of Preacher is a profound reminder of the courage and dedication of our law enforcement officers and their K-9 partners.”
The MSP posted on Facebook, “It is with great sadness that we tell you K-9 Preacher was killed in the line of duty last night. Maine State Police K-9 Preacher, a four-year-old Belgian Malinois, was killed in the line of duty last night during a tactical team operation in Portage. Preacher and his handler, Sgt. Jonathan Russell, served the greater Southern Field Troop area and the Maine State Police Tactical Team. Sgt. Russell and K-9 Preacher attended the Maine State Police K-9 Patrol School in the fall of 2023, where they became a certified patrol team.”
The post continued, “The tactical team was deployed in response to an armed standoff involving a suspect who had shot an Aroostook County deputy on Monday, February 3, 2025. The standoff lasted several hours before the suspect attempted to flee the residence around 8 p.m. K-9 Preacher was deployed to apprehend the suspect when he was shot in the abdomen.”
Explaining the shootout with Righini, the post added, “Following the shooting, the suspect was engaged by Sgt. Jonathan Russell and Specialist Andrew Hardy, who returned fire. The suspect was pronounced dead on the scene. K-9 Preacher was immediately rushed to an emergency veterinary clinic in Presque Isle, where he was stabilized. Despite the efforts of veterinary staff, he succumbed to his injuries early this morning. He was surrounded by Sgt. Russell and several members of the tactical team when he passed.”
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Featured image credit: Scarborough Maine Police Department / Facebook