Dog attack leaves a woman dead, a man critically injured in Arizona

Arizona police are investigating after a dog attack Friday that left a woman dead and a man critically injured.

Sierra Vista police responded to a 911 call to find a dog attacking the male victim, Sam Sanches, 53, in a backyard. Officers killed the dog and provided first aid to Sanches, according to a police news release. The officers then found the second victim, Helene Jackson, 84, in critical condition in the alley behind the residence. As police were responding to Jackson, a second dog returned to the yard and was killed by officers. 

According to Corporal Scott Borgstadt at the Sierra Vista Police Department, Jackson was first attacked by the dogs and Sanches came to her aid when he was then attacked.

Sanches was taken to Banner Medical Center and remains in critical condition.

Jackson was transported to the Canyon Vista Medical Center, where she died from her injuries that night. Her dog was also found dead in the alley where she was found, police said. 

The three dead dogs were taken in by the Sierra Vista Police Department’s Animal Control Office for further investigation, according to the news release.

The investigation was ongoing, and police asked anyone with information about the attacks to contact Detective Thomas P. Ransford at 520-452-7500.

Recent dog attacks

Last week, a Texas man was mauled to death by a pack of dogs in Texas, after the state’s governor vetoed a bill that would have enacted harsher penalties for those who own vicious canines. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott argued that the state’s existing laws were sufficient.