First responders at the scene where an 80-year-old man was killed and three others were injured in a dog attack in San Antonio Friday.
An elderly man was killed and three others were hospitalized after a vicious dog attack in San Antonio Friday, authorities said.
Emergency crews responded to the “horrific scene” in the Texas city’s West Side around 2 p.m. and found a “completely bloody” 80-year-old man being dragged onto the sidewalk by one of two American Staffordshire terriers involved in the deadly attack, San Antonio Fire Chief Charles Hood told KSAT.
When SAFD firefighters got off the truck they were attacked by the dogs and forced to defend themselves with pickaxes and pike poles while they tried to treat the victim, he said.
“This is not something normal for us. We usually don’t show up and have to defend patients from animals or ourselves,” Hood said.
The elderly man was given blood at the scene but died of his injuries, according to officials.
The horror unfolded after the elderly man and a 74-year-old woman, who had just arrived on the street to visit friends, stepped outside of their vehicle, San Antonio police said.
At that time, the two dogs escaped from the neighbor’s yard and attacked the duo — who were described by police as a couple.
The dogs caused “visible bite injuries to both victims,” police said. A fire captain suffered a bite wound to the leg and a third victim was bitten in the hand. All three surviving victims were taken to University Hospital for treatment.
“Horrific scene, horrific for the people who experienced it and horrific for our firefighters that were part of this,” Hood said.
The two dogs involved in the attack and another dog from the same home were unrestrained at the time and have been taken into the custody of San Antonio Animal Care Services. They will reportedly be euthanized Friday night.
The two Staffordshire terriers, a male and female, were involved in another attack two years ago when they were also impounded with animal services, ACS Director Shannon Sims told KSAT.
Sims said the shelter has received numerous calls from concerned neighbors over the last two years claiming the dogs were neglected and seemed to be strays.
The dogs’ owner, Christian Moreno, 31, was arrested and is facing felony charges of attack by dangerous dog causes death and injury to an elderly, police said.
