Sheriff’s homicide detectives are investigating the death of a 43-year-old man who got into a fight with another man and was attacked by the man’s dog at a homeless encampment in Lancaster Tuesday afternoon, authorities said.
The incident was reported around 3:15 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 22, in the desert area of 20th Street West north of Avenue G, according to a news release from the Sheriff’s Information Bureau.
“Deputies arriving to the homeless encampment discovered at least two people suffering from injuries, one of whom was unresponsive lying on the ground. The unresponsive man was transported to a nearby hospital where he was pronounced dead,” the news release states.
“Investigators learned a physical altercation occurred between the deceased victim and another man outside of a motor home in the encampment. The other man’s dog got loose from inside the motor home and attacked the victim and at least one more person trying to intervene. The victim was able to walk away but stumbled some distance away and fell unresponsive to the ground,” the news release states.
“The victim does not appear to have died as a result of being bitten by the dog. His cause of death will be determined at autopsy,” the news release states. The victim’s name has not yet been released pending next of kin notification.
The owner of the dog was detained and is cooperating with the investigation, sheriff’s officials said. The dog was removed from the scene by animal control and did not appear to have sustained any injuries, according to the news release.
Anyone with information about this incident is encouraged to contact the Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500. Anonymous tips can be called in to Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477 or submitted online at lacrimestoppers.org.
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Little me says
As someone who was made homeless wrongfully by t sheriff deputies who chose to believe someone just because they were a business owner and I was an ex employee so didn’t bother to make one simple phone call which could have kept me from becoming homeless and unemployed suddenly and unexpectedly I have to say that not all homeless people are mental cases not so all homeless people do drugs though the way the general public treats you combined with the difficulties of homelessness I can understand why they would start.
I’m finding it difficult to find a job as I was not even allowed to get my clothes and was later told my co manager of the motel picked them up but most of our things had disappeared so all I had and have is what I could fit in a small backpack and certainly was not clothes for for job searching. So before you look down your noises at what you consider the lower classes you may want to consider not everyone is high and just not wanting to work. That would be like saying everyone with a roof over their head are pompous turds who think they’re excrement doesn’t stink and they are better than everyone else simply because they have more money. I’ll pray for you all
Cynic says
You’re not doing the mentally ill any favors by letting live their medieval lifestyle in shantytowns. Crack down on these open air drug markets.
Tim Scott says
You would do them the “favor” of extermination, I suppose?
Encampment says
The mentally ill and drug addicts…
AV Observer says
Very sad. To think that we could have had a facility on Ave. I in the old County building that would provide 700 beds and the capability to provide services for 1400, but instead our mayor chose to give a no bid contract to his friend for a 150 bed facility makes me sad and angry. It’s the same old, same old in Rex’s Lancaster.
Tim Scott says
Agreed. 100%
Stinger says
Indeed.
Someone Who Knows says
Most of those buildings at the Avenue I facility (the Muncy building and adjacent facilities) are not up to code. There are multiple OSHA issues preventing habitation there until the problem(s) can be properly remedied. The county would actually save money by continuing to build onto the existing facility on Avenue I and 5th Street East rather than finance the mitigation around eliminating all of the potential health and safety hazards that exist at 60th Street West.
Sometimes, it’s better to look at facts through a logical lens, rather than a purely emotional one.