Officer shoots, kills pit bull after attack

GLENDALE, AZ - A woman is in serious condition after being mauled by a pit bull she was watching for a friend.

Police say shortly after 3pm Tuesday, Lucio Guerra called police reporting a woman was being attacked by a pit bull dog at an apartment complex near 61st Avenue and Bethany Home Road.

"The owner was hitting the dog with chains," Guerra said, "but it wouldn't get off."

According to Glendale Police spokesperson Tracey Breeden, when officers arrived, the pit bull was biting and attacking the 27-year-old woman. When Officer Nicholas Magley tried to pull the dog off the woman, the dog started to attack him.

Police say Officer Magley feared for his life and shot and killed the dog. 

The woman was transported to a local hospital. Police say she was bitten on the back of her neck down to her spine.

The woman is in serious condition, but expected to survive.

No officers were hurt as a result of the incident.

Guerra said that the dog's owner had small bite wounds to his leg, but should be fine.