59-Year-Old Man Mauled to Death by Pit Bull, Neighbors Describe the ‘Violent’ Animal as ‘Like a Tiger’

A 59-year-old man was fatally attacked by a pit bull at a New York home, according to reports.

At around 4 p.m. local time on Sunday, Jan. 25, the police received a dog attack report from a residence on New Dorp Lane in Staten Island, ABC7 Eyewitness News (ABC7) reported.

The New York Police Department (NYPD) arrived at the residence to find a 59-year-old man dead with wounds on his arms and thighs “consistent with dog bites,” according to CBS News.

Investigators confirmed that the victim was mauled by a pit bull at the home, per ABC7 Eyewitness News. The man did not live at the residence where the attack took place, according to the outlet.

The pit bull, named Bean, has a history of “violent” incidents, neighbors told ABC7. “Has a dark side. He bit my friend over five times,” alleged Robert Lamantia.

Joseph Dantuono said he was walking by the property on New Dorp Lane on the day of the attack when the pit bull attempted to charge at him from behind the fence, per ABC7.

“It [was] kinda like jumping on the gate. It was kinda like a tiger jumping at me,” he said.

Another anonymous neighbor alleged that the dog had been “abused” by its owners.

“This dog was abused because the people who lived there did not want this dog,” she told ABC7. “Just the other day, they kicked it out and it was running down the street and the owner, she was running after the dog with no shoes on.”

There were several people at the home when the attack occurred, per CBS News. The police previously visited the same address on prior unrelated drug offenses, according to ABC7.

Following the attack, the pit bull was tranquilized and handed over to the Center for Animal Care and Control (CACC), where he remains on a 10-day rabies observation hold, per CBS News and ABC7.

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The NYPD is investigating the incident and is currently searching for the dog’s owner to determine possible criminal charges, per ABC7.

The NYPD and CACC did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for further comment on Monday, Jan. 26.