An off-duty police officer in Southwest Philadelphia took lethal action against one out of three pit bulls that were attacking a woman on Tuesday morning, authorities reported. The incident occurred around 10:38 a.m. on the 1500 block of South 58th Street, where the officer, driving his personal vehicle, came upon a 52-year-old woman under assault by the animals, according to the police department's account provided to NBC Philadelphia.
During the violent encounter, the dogs' 21-year-old owner tried, but failed, to restrain them. The officer discharged his service weapon multiple times to halt the attack. The victim suffered bites to her leg, arm, and head and was subsequently taken to a local hospital listed in stable condition, police said.
After the shooting, one pit bull was found deceased in the owner's backyard, while a second dog was brought under control. The search continues for the third dog, as mentioned in a report by FOX 29. The officer, with two years on the force, has been placed on administrative leave pending a full investigation into the shooting.
The authorities have not yet released any additional details about what might have provoked the dogs' aggression. Meanwhile, the local community is dealing with the aftermath of the traumatic event and the police department is expected to conduct a thorough evaluation of the incident, as well as the officer's response.
