A 73-year-old woman who was bitten by her pit bull mix in Boston, Massachusetts, on Monday afternoon has died, police said Tuesday morning.
The dog bit a woman and a man believed to be its owners, as well as two police officers helping them, leaving the woman with life-threatening injuries and the man seriously hurt, according to police.
The woman, identified Tuesday as 73-year-old Jeriline Brady-McGinnis of Roxbury, died from her injuries. Her husband was also badly hurt and is in intensive care, but is expected to survive. The officers suffered non-life-threatening injuries.
Local civil rights trailblazer Jean McGuire, who lives above the victims' apartment, spoke positively of Brady-McGinnis.
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"She's a wonderful person. Very generous, very loving person. Loved animals," McGuire said. "She and her family are like my family."
Brady-McGinnes spoke with NBC10 Boston in 2022 after McGuire was stabbed in Franklin Park.
"I just want the ladies to be careful walking their dogs," she said at the time. "If you're walking the dog up there, make sure your dog's not afraid to be in a fight."
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An officer shot the dog, which was wounded and taken to Angell Animal Medical Center for treatment but later euthanized with the agreement of the owner's son due to its worsening condition and poor prognosis to prevent further suffering.
The dog attack was reported about 4:29 p.m. on Dennison Street in Roxbury, according to police. When the officers arrived, they found two adults with wounds consistent with a dog attack, and as they provided aid, the dog returned and attacked them as well.
Investigators believe that the initial attack took place inside the building, while the second attack on the officers took place outside. The woman and man attacked by the dog are believed to be related, but they have not been identified.
Everyone who was bitten was taken to area hospitals, and the dog that was shot was taken away by Boston Animal Control, along with three other dogs at the home. The three other dogs are also pit bull mixes, animal control said, and their overall condition is adequate. They are being cared for under the supervision of the city's veterinary medical director.
"I'm just incredibly saddened that this happened and that somebody lost their life in this interaction," Mayor Michelle Wu said.
"They had too many dogs," McGuire said. "And they put them in cages, and I told them, 'Don't put them a dog in a cage,' you know, keep them from fighting or whatever."
Other neighbors told NBC10 Boston the dogs had made them nervous.
"They bark all day," said Kim Beaudete. "They're not really socialized."
McGuire was not home during the attack and wasn't completely surprised when she learned what happened.
"You have to be careful with anything alive, about your relationship, in terms of trust and a pecking order," she said.
Police are asking for anyone with information on the dog's background or the attack to reach out to them.
