A woman was killed and another injured after they were attacked by more than a dozen dogs at Perris Hill Park in San Bernardino, California.
Police responded to a call around 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, July 31, reporting that someone was being attacked by dogs, according to KTLA and the Los Angeles Times.
Officers arrived to find two women on the ground, roughly 30 yards apart, the San Bernardino Police Department (SBPD) said.
KTLA identified one of the victims as 51-year-old Teodora Mendoza. She suffered severe injuries to her face and was transported to a nearby hospital, where she later died.
The second victim’s identity has not yet been made public, and it remains unclear whether the two women knew each other.
San Bernardino Police Sgt. Chris Gray told the Los Angeles Times, “It appears they may have been stray dogs.” He added that the scene was chaotic upon officers’ arrival due to the number of dogs present.
During the response, one Pitbull was shot and killed after it charged at an officer, according to KTLA.
The attack occurred near a homeless encampment. San Bernardino Animal Control later removed 14 dogs from the area, the outlets reported.
Mendoza’s son, Alex Lozano, told the Los Angeles Times that his mother had been homeless for over a year and regularly visited the 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,” said Lozano, 21, adding that he and his mother had been estranged.
The investigation is ongoing.
The San Bernardino Police Department did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment on Sunday, Aug. 3.
