NEED TO KNOW
- A woman was mauled to death by multiple dogs at a California park on July 31
- Another woman was also injured in the attack
- “It was a bit of a chaotic scene at first, because there were multiple dogs out there,” a local police officer said
One woman died and another was injured after they were attacked by more than a dozen dogs at a park in southern California.
Police responded to a call that an individual was being attacked by dogs at the Perris Hill Park in San Bernardino at around 5:00 p.m. local time on Thursday, July 31, KTLA and the Los Angeles Times reported.
Officers arrived to find two victims “lying on the ground about 30 yards away from each other,” the San Bernardino Police Department (SBPD) said, per the outlets.
KTLA identified the one victim as Teodora Mendoza, 51. The outlet said the woman had severe face injuries and was taken to the hospital, but she was later pronounced dead.
The identity of the second woman has not yet been released. It is not currently known if the two victims knew each other.
Speaking with the Times, San Bernardino Police Sgt. Chris Gray said of the animals involved, “It appears they may have been stray dogs.”
“It was a bit of a chaotic scene at first, because there were multiple dogs out there,” he added.
According to KTLA, one Pitbull was shot dead after it charged at a police officer when they arrived at the scene.
The incident occurred near a homeless encampment, and San Bernardino Animal Control later responded to the scene and removed 14 dogs, per KTLA and the Times.
Mendoza’s son, Alex Lozano, told the Times his mother had been homeless for more than a year at the time of the death. He added that she often visited Perris Hill Park with a male companion.
“My grandpa from Texas called and said that my mom was attacked by Pit bulls. That’s how I found out,” Lozano, 21, said.
He added that he and his mother had not spoken for some time.
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An investigation into the incident is ongoing.
The SBPD did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment on Sunday, Aug. 3.
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