2 Dogs Attack And Kill Woman, Injure Son
CONIFER, Colo. (CBS4) - Two pit bull terriers that attacked and killed a woman in her home were euthanized on Tuesday evening.
The victim who died has been identified as Susan Shawl, 60.
Authorities said that the two pit bulls belonged to Susan Shawl's son, Richard Shawl, 36.
Richard Shawl was also injured in the attack, which happened around 7 p.m. Monday at the home that the two shared on Black Widow Drive in Conifer. Richard was taken to Swedish Medical Center with what was described as non-life threatening injuries.
Jefferson County Animal Control took the dogs from their home to Foothills Animal Shelter in Golden where they were quarantined under court order. Authorities said that Richard Shawl gave permission for his dogs to be euthanized there, which happened Tuesday evening.
Officials said that Richard had already been issued a warning citation in 2008 after a neighbor reported that the dogs had gotten loose and were behaving aggressively.
A Jeffco Sheriff's Office spokesperson told CBS4's Melissa Garcia that the investigation into the deadly attack was ongoing and it was not clear if Richard would be facing charges.
Bonnie Bogart, a neighbor, was shocked to learn that Susan has been killed by the dogs and that Richard had been injured by them in their own home.
"To go after their owner, that pretty much blew me away," Bogart said.
According to authorities, the frantic 911 call Monday night came from Richard.
"We got a 911 call from a male saying that he needed help, screaming in the background," said Lt. Scott Happ, of the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office.
Deputies arrived to find the two dogs loose in the home and said that Susan was barely conscious.
"Really bad wounds. We've got a tourniquet on," said a first responder over the emergency radio to dispatch.
Susan died at the scene.
Family friends said that Susan's husband had passed away in July.
Neighbors said that the dogs spent much of their time behind a metal fence dog pen that was visible from the outside of the Shawl's home.
Melissa Garcia has been reporting for CBS4 News since March 2014. Find her bio here, follow her on Twitter @MelissaGarciaTV, or send your story idea to mkgarcia@cbs.com.
