Police have identified the man killed in a dog attack Tuesday morning as as 71-year-old Robert Northrop of Ocean View.
Shortly before 9 a.m. Tuesday, Ka‘u patrol officers responded to an animal complaint in the 92-2000 block of Outrigger Drive in Ocean View.
Arriving officers saw Northrop lying unconscious in the roadway. According to police, a witness saw Northrop being attacked in the roadway by four large dogs. The witness chased the dogs and called police and paramedics to the scene.
Northrop was treated at the scene by emergency medical personnel, however succumbed to his injuries while en route to the hospital.
“There is currently no evidence that the victim provoked this horrific attack,” said Hawaii Police Chief Ben Moszkowicz. “This incident is a senseless tragedy that could have been avoided.”
The dogs’ owners were not home at the time of the attack. They have been identified, however, and contacted by police. Investigators are looking into claims that the dogs had previously been reported as stray animals.
In the meantime, the owners have surrendered all four dogs and a litter of 10 puppies to the Hawaii County Animal Control and Protection Agency.
Police are investigating this incident as a negligent failure to control a dangerous dog case.
Anyone with information relative to this investigation is asked to contact the police department’s non-emergency number at (808) 935-3311 or Crime Stoppers at (808) 961-8300.