In what was meant to be a promotional video demonstrating the discipline of trained dogs, a young man's life was tragically cut short. Curtice Gordon, a 22-year-old White/Caucasian male, was fatally shot on June 3, 2025, in Rochester, Washington. The incident occurred at Kraftwerk K9, a German Shepherd breeding and training facility where Gordon was an employee.
On that Tuesday morning, deputies were dispatched to the business around 10:28 a.m.
for a report of an unconscious man with a gunshot wound. Emergency responders arrived to find a chaotic scene with people screaming that someone had been accidentally shot. Medical personnel pronounced Gordon dead at the scene at 10:37 a.m. from a gunshot wound to his face, near his nose.
The filming was intended to showcase why a trained dog is a better form of protection than a firearm. The owner of the facility, Wayne George Curry, 64, was allegedly demonstrating how a canine would not react to gunfire. During the filming, Curry was handling a dog while firing a rifle with live ammunition at a target. Gordon's role in the video was to agitate the dog by making noise with a whip and wearing a bite sleeve, standing about 30 feet to the side of the target. Investigators believe that during the demonstration, one of the dogs reacted to the gunfire, causing Curry to jerk the rifle. A round was discharged, striking Gordon.
Curry was arrested the same day and has been charged with first-degree manslaughter. According to court documents, Curry told investigators he did not intend to harm Gordon. He was reportedly distraught and had multiple anxiety attacks at the scene. A judge set his bail at $250,000, and a trial confirmation hearing was scheduled for February 26, 2026. The investigation by the Thurston County Sheriff's Office is ongoing. Friends and family remember Gordon as a passionate animal lover who had found his calling working with dogs and was even preparing to take over the business.
