No charges for officer in shooting of accused Rockford K9 killer

ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO) — The Rockford Police officer who returned fire and shot Malik Trotter, 28, moments after Trotter allegedly killed his partner, K9 Nyx, who was in pursuit, will not face charges in the shooting, according to Winnebago County State’s Attorney J. Hanley.

On January 28th, Rockford Police said officers were investigating a “domestic situation” in the 3000 block of Jacqueline Drive around 1:46 p.m.

The State’s Attorney’s Office said the victim told officers she got into a verbal argument with Trotter, who she said had returned from Chicago the night before after drinking a mixture of codeine cough syrup and soda, ecstasy, and smoking marijuana. The woman told police Trotter was still “high” at the time of the argument, and subsequently left the apartment with her phone.

Trotter reportedly fired three shots at the woman’s son, who pursued him out of the apartment.

Trotter was located a short time later in the 2900 block of 11th Street, police said.

Rockford Police Officer Vargas and his K9 partner, Nyx, pursued Trotter on foot, according to the State’s Attorney, and K9 Nyx pursued Trotter over a fence, where three shots rang out.

After seeing his K9 partner suffering from gunshot wounds, Officer Vargas reportedly spotted Trotter across the street.

Authorities said Trotter fired his weapon at the officer, who then returned fire, firing 21 total shots after reloading, striking Trotter in the leg.

K9 Nyx succumbed to her wounds at the scene, after suffering a gunshot to the head.

At the conclusion of a lengthy investigation by the Winnebago-Boone County Integrity Task Force, made up of officers outside of the Rockford Police Department for which Vargas is employed, States Attorney J. Hanely found “Officer Vargas’ use of deadly force was justified and thus, no criminal charges will be filed in this case.”

Trotter is charged with five counts of Attempted First Degree Murder, Aggravated Discharge of a Firearm at a Police Officer, Armed Violence, Felon in Possession of a Firearm, Aggravated Battery of a Police Officer, and Killing a Police Animal.

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