And FBI dog was killed in the line of duty Thursday morning when he was caught in the crossfire of a crazed man on a shooting spree.

Kurt Myers shot and killed Ape, a 2-year-old Czech German Shepherd, Thursday morning as law-enforcement agents stormed an abandoned building in downtown Herkimer, New York where he was hiding.

Myers was wanted for the murders of four people in upstate New York after he allegedly went on a shooting rampage Wednesday.

Afterwards, Myers sought refuge in an abandoned former bar.

Police and federal agents moved in at approximately 8am Thursday morning, but Myers was prepared with a firearm and plenty of ammunition.

"He engaged in gunfire when he saw the team," reported State Trooper Jack Keller, a spokesman for New York State Police.

Myers shot at Ape from an open doorway. "We're pretty sure it would have been an officer if it was not the dog," said Keller. "Myers was in waiting."

The officers immediately returned fire and Myers was shot dead.

Officers removed the FBI dog from the scene in small metal casket.

The Thursday morning standoff in Herkimer was Ape's first assignment.

"Ape was doing what he was trained to do and made the ultimate sacrifice for his team," said FBI spokeswoman Ann Todd. "His actions were heroic and prevented his teammates from being seriously wounded or killed."

"Our heart goes out to the handler of the canine, and the canine. We consider them part of law enforcement, and we do feel their loss," said State Police Superintendent Joseph D'Amico.

The motive behind Myers' killing spree is still unclear. He is said to have shot dead two people and wounded two others at a barber shop killed two more people at a car wash a short while later.