Police Shoot and Kill Dogs Mauling City Worker

A Phoenix police officer shot and killed two dogs as they attacked a city employee in a Phoenix park Tuesday, according to a police news release.

A passerby called 9-1-1 at about 9:30 a.m. as the 42-year-old victim was attacked by the American bulldogs..

“As I approached him, the dogs were yanking on him really hard and he woke up, he wasn’t dead,” said passerby Sam Nasser. “I was on the phone with 9-1-1 and said ‘get someone here now.’”

Arriving officers found Carl Corona, a City of Phoenix Street Transportation Department employee, being dragged by the dogs at a park near 35th and Northern avenues.

“It’s a horrible situation,” said Detective Tony Morales with the Phoenix Police Department. “Dogs can be extremely vicious. These are large American Bulldogs.”

Corona was taken to John C. Lincoln Hospital in serious condition.

According to the City of Phoenix, Corona underwent surgery on Tuesday and will have another surgery on Wednesday afternoon. His condition is stable.

The dogs, a male and female according to police, were attacking Corona’s arm when officers shot and killed both dogs, authorities said.

“The police showed up, piled out of the car and like wild west cowboys killed the two dogs quick as can be,” said Nasser.

Nasser said the sight of the dogs tearing at Corona’s arm was one of the most horrible things he’s ever seen.

“His right arm was shredded, shredded to the bone,” said Nasser. “It was just not a nice thing to see. I’m glad there were no little kids around.”

Investigators determined the dogs escaped from a nearby yard. Police believe someone doing landscaping in the area possibly spooked the dogs causing them to force open a gate and break free.

“They would have killed him,” added Nasser. “He was within a half hour of being dead anyway. Just a gruesome scene, a very gruesome scene.”

This story courtesy of ABC 15 Phoenix.