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Pit bulls likely involved in attack that killed woman in California, police say

PD: Dogs escaped from nearby business
Posted at 11:33 PM, Jun 17, 2019
and last updated 2019-06-17 23:33:42-04

Officials confirm that three dogs attacked a woman who was found dead in a Costco parking lot Sunday morning in Bakersfield, California.

Bakersfield Police Department spokesman Nathan McCauley said one pit bull and one mixed breed escaped from a nearby business before the attack. The third dog was a stray pit bull.

Police said the attack started in a commercial area parallel to Costco, where several businesses occupy.

As the attack continued, the woman exited onto Costco's parking lot through a fence, where she later died, according to to officials.

The woman, who has not been identified, was in her late 30s to early 40s and is a Bakersfield resident. She was found by a bystander shortly after 6 a.m Sunday morning, but officials say the attack appeared to have happened several hours prior to their arrival. Police said the dogs likely attacked the woman, but are awaiting final results of an autopsy from the coroner's office before determining the cause of death.

An auto shop provided surveillance footage to Scripps affiliate KERO-TV and police showing one of the dogs, which officials confirmed attacked the woman.

Jaime Camorlinga, the owner of Central Valley Performance auto shop, said he is shocked an incident like that can happen there.

"I've seen those two particular dogs walk around once in a blue moon," Camorlinga said. "I never thought about them as dangerous or anything."

All three dogs were located and will be euthanized by animal control, according to officials.

Offiicals are still investigating. So far, no arrests have been made and no citations have been issues.

This story was originally published by Vanessa Romo on KERO.