A tragic incident unfolded in Lancaster on Saturday night when a man was fatally mauled by a group of pit bulls, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, as reported by CBS News Los Angeles. The attack occurred around 10:30 p.m. at a residence on the 44000 block of 22nd Street East. details regarding what precipitated the mauling have yet to surface.
The deputies who responded to the scene found the victim being aggressively attacked by the dogs, leading them to shoot one of the pit bulls in the leg to protect themselves and others, according to a statement obtained by ABC7. Following the intervention, the Los Angeles County Department of Animal Care and Control took custody of four dogs from the property, including the wounded animal; their fate post-incident remains unclear.
The man, whose identity hasn't been revealed, was rushed to the hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries. NBC4 notes that neighbors reported frequent law enforcement visits to the home involved in the attack. A video captured at the scene showed a woman being taken into custody and deputies carrying a small child away from the premises; however, the nature of the woman's involvement and the child's relationship to the incident have yet to be detailed.
Neighbors expressed dismay to NBC Los Angeles, with one saying, "We saw them start bringing out the dogs and unfortunately, you know, a couple of the dogs didn’t make it. They had to take care of business to try and save the man’s life, but there was also a child that was in the home that we have never seen, that apparently DCFS had to get involved.” The police have said that the victim was known to the home's residents, yet the reason for his presence in the backyard where the attack took place remains a mystery.
