L.A. County sheriff’s deputies responded to an emergency call on Monday in Lancaster, where a pit bull was attacking a man. The incident occurred in the 43200 block of 20th Street West.
Authorities reported that a 911 call was received at 9:53 a.m. The caller described a violent dog attack in progress. Upon arriving at the scene, deputies saw a pit bull attacking a man in a yard. The yard was fenced, and the gate was locked. The man appeared unresponsive.
A deputy attempted to use verbal commands to stop the pit bull. These attempts were unsuccessful, leading the deputy to discharge their weapon. The shot struck the dog, ending the attack. The pit bull was declared dead.
The victim was taken to a local hospital, where medical staff listed him in stable condition. Further investigation revealed the pit bull belonged to a family member living with the victim.
L.A. County Animal Control officials took possession of the deceased animal. The cause and circumstances of the attack remain under investigation.
Lancaster Station Capt. Paul Bartlett remarked on the deputies’ prompt response. “When our deputies arrived, they encountered a life-threatening emergency and acted without hesitation to save a man’s life,” he said. Bartlett commended their quick transition from managing the threat to giving medical aid until firefighters could arrive.
The event echoes a similar incident last July, where a man was killed by two pit bulls in Lancaster. During that attack, deputies also had to shoot one of the dogs to allow paramedics to reach the victim. Unfortunately, the man did not survive.