SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. (BN24) — A 51-year-old woman was mauled to death and another injured after being attacked by a large pack of stray dogs in a harrowing incident at a southern California park on Thursday evening.
Authorities said police responded to a 5 p.m. call reporting a dog attack at Perris Hill Park in San Bernardino. Upon arrival, officers found two women lying on the ground roughly 30 yards apart, both suffering from severe injuries, according to the San Bernardino Police Department.
One of the victims, identified by KTLA as Teodora Mendoza, sustained extensive facial trauma. She was rushed to the hospital but later died from her injuries. The second woman’s identity has not been released, and it remains unclear whether the two victims were acquainted.
“It was a bit of a chaotic scene at first, because there were multiple dogs out there,” San Bernardino Police Sgt. Chris Gray told the Los Angeles Times. He added that the animals involved appeared to be strays.
Police reportedly encountered one of the dogs, described as a Pitbull, charging at an officer upon arrival. The dog was shot and killed. San Bernardino Animal Control later responded and captured 14 dogs from the area near a nearby homeless encampment, both KTLA and the Times reported.
Mendoza’s 21-year-old son, Alex Lozano, told the Times that his mother had been homeless for over a year and frequently spent time at Perris Hill Park with a male companion. He said he learned of her death from his grandfather in Texas, who called to say she had been attacked by Pit bulls.
The San Bernardino Police Department said an investigation into the fatal mauling is ongoing. PEOPLE’s request for comment had not yet been answered as of Sunday.
The city of San Bernardino has not confirmed whether the captured dogs will be euthanized or whether criminal charges will be considered in connection with the attack.
