STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Less than 24 hours after a man was found dead of a suspected dog mauling on Staten Island, questions remained about how the incident unfolded — and why.
Officers responded to a 911 call around 4 p.m. at 608 New Dorp Lane in New Dorp, an NYPD spokesperson confirmed to the Advance/SILive.com.
Upon arrival, officers found a 59-year-old man with severe wounds about the body, consistent with dog bites. FDNY/EMS responded and pronounced the man dead at the scene, police said.
A law enforcement source told the Advance/SILive.com on Monday that the man was playing with the dog — which police and sources referred to as a pit bull — when it “turned on him.”
The source added other people inside the house who witnessed the attack called 911. The victim was not the homeowner, though it was unclear whether he was a resident of the home or a visitor.
The identity of the victim has not been released. Police confirmed there were no other dog-bite victims.
An NYPD Emergency Services Unit removed the dog from the home late Sunday afternoon and transported it to the ASPCA, according to a law enforcement source with direct knowledge of the case.
There was a police presence outside the New Dorp home throughout Monday morning into the early afternoon, an Advance/SILive.com reporter observed.
The suspected fatal attack occurred Sunday afternoon in New Dorp. Neighbors claim they had long been concerned about the dog’s treatment and behavior.Nicolette Cavallaro for The Staten Island Advance/SILive.comNeighbors voice concerns
Several neighbors who spoke to the Advance/SILive.com on the condition of anonymity claimed a “big dog” had been left outside in unsafe weather conditions previously, and had escaped several times in the past.
“The dog did go after some girl one time with a small dog,” a neighbor alleged. “It’s not safe, we’re all afraid to walk by.”
Others claimed that the treatment of the dog had been a concern for an extended period of time.
One nearby business owner, who also requested anonymity, said he was not surprised an attack happened.
“We knew it’s gonna happen. Everyday something happened in that house,” he shared.
A law enforcement source claimed police have responded to the home in the past, though the nature of those responses was unclear.
There have been no arrests and the investigation remains ongoing, police said on Monday. The Office of Chief Medical Examiner will determine the official cause of death.