Fatal Dog Attack in Upstate New York Under Investigation

An upstate New York man was tragically killed by a pack of pit bulls in a disturbing incident on Wednesday evening, according to authorities. The attack occurred in the city of Albany and was only brought to an end after a police officer intervened by shooting one of the dogs.

James Provost, a 59-year-old resident of Schenectady, was attacked by a group of approximately ten dogs at around 6 p.m. The animals were kept at a property next door to a suspected drug house, as confirmed by Albany Police Chief Eric Hawkins.

“This was a horrific attack,” Hawkins said in a statement. A video capturing parts of the incident shows the dogs, barking aggressively, surrounding Provost as he attempted to defend himself. The footage reportedly shows the animals dragging him around, appearing to be unconscious at one point.

When officers arrived on the scene, they immediately encountered eight or nine dogs surrounding Provost. In an effort to disperse the aggressive pack, one officer discharged their weapon, hitting one animal and scaring the others away.

According to Hawkins, the attack occurred in the backyard of a residence adjacent to where the dogs were housed. The police are still uncertain about how Provost ended up in that particular location, as it was not his place of residence.

Authorities have revealed that the house where the dogs were located had been raided previously in May due to suspected drug activities. During that operation, five to seven dogs were temporarily confiscated for safekeeping before eventually being released back. It remains unclear whether those dogs were involved in the fatal attack.

Chief Hawkins also reported that a total of 24 pit bulls and mixed-breed pit bulls, including 15 puppies, were found at the scene on Wednesday. They have since been placed in the care of a local humane society.

As of Thursday, no charges have been filed. The investigation is still in its early stages, with authorities looking to determine why Provost was in the backyard and why such a large number of dogs were being kept at that location. Hawkins emphasized that the investigation aims to identify any potential criminal liability, stating, “We’re going to find out who, if someone, is criminally responsible for this.”

The fate of the dogs involved in the attack will ultimately be decided by the judicial system.