PALMDALE, CA (KCAL/KCBS/CNN) - The sheriff’s department says a bullet fired by deputies on Thursday likely bounced off the pavement and struck a teen boy who later died.
Deputies were shooting at an aggressive dog early Thursday morning while responding to a call about a house party, KCBS said.
The teen went outside the home to see about the pit bull and may have been struck by a ricocheting bullet, the sheriff’s department said.
The dog bit a deputy on the left knee. The bitten deputy also was taken to the hospital with wounds from a ricocheting bullet. The dog was shot multiple times and later euthanized at a veterinary hospital. The adult male dog weighed 60 to 65 pounds, officials said.
The teen was taken to the hospital and was pronounced dead from his wounds.
"They quickly provided medical treatment, had Fire (rescue) respond, treated the victim, and transported him to a local hospital. He was pronounced deceased at the hospital," said Capt. Chris Bergner of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.
The teen’s aunt, Amber Alcantar, said the boy was just trying to protect the dog.
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