PLYMOUTH TOWNSHIP, Pa. (CBS) – A Plymouth Township police officer was shot and killed Thursday evening responding to a hit-and-run crash in Montgomery County.

It happened at Conshohocken and Ernest Station roads in Plymouth Township at about 6 p.m.

PHOTOS: From The Scene

Sources say K-9 Officer Brad Fox was pursuing a hit-and-run suspect, which led to a violent confrontation between the two.

At a press conference held Thursday night, Montgomery County District Attorney Risa Ferman confirmed the Officer Fox was shot in the head. He was rushed to Montgomery Hospital where he died. Officer Fox’s K-9, Nick, was also shot, but survived and is fine, Ferman said.

Watch: Montgomery County DA Holds Press Conference

Authorities say the suspect was killed, but due to an ongoing investigation, they would not disclose how he died or the circumstances that led to Thursday’s violence.

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Officer Fox is the first Plymouth Township officer killed in the line of duty, according to Ferman.

“There are just no words to express the magnitude of this tragedy for Officer Fox’s family, for his wife, for his beautiful little girl, his law enforcement family and the Plymouth Police Department and the entire Montgomery County law enforcement family and community,” Ferman said. “When I said to you he was a hero, I meant that.”

Officer Fox served two tours in Iraq as a marine. A seven-year veteran of the police force, Officer Fox leaves behind a pregnant wife and a young daughter.

He would have turned 35 on Friday.