CHARLOTTE, N.C. — New surveillance video is shedding light on the moments before a pack of dogs attacked four people in a northwest Charlotte neighborhood, showing several dogs escaping from the back of a moving U-Haul truck.
The attacks happened Wednesday, Aug. 26, on Claiborne Woods Road, where residents were left shaken after a pack of seven pit bull-type dogs reportedly ran through the neighborhood and attacked multiple people.
At least one woman remained hospitalized Thursday following the attack.
According to reporting from WSOC-TV, investigators learned that a man who had been evicted from a home on Claiborne Woods Road had placed several dogs inside a U-Haul truck. Video obtained by the station appears to show the truck traveling over a speed hump, causing its rear gate to open.
Several dogs then ran out of the truck and into the neighborhood.
Neighbor Joseph Correa told WSOC that he later saw the U-Haul continuing down the road with its rear gate open. He said he attempted to get the driver’s attention as the dogs began moving through the area.
Correa said he heard a woman screaming for help and grabbed a shovel before running toward her. He told reporters that he saw the dogs attacking his neighbor and tried to help get them off her.
The woman was reportedly dragged to the ground during the attack and suffered injuries that required hospitalization.
A Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Office deputy eventually shot one of the dogs. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Animal Care and Control officers captured six additional dogs, according to WSOC.
Investigators Search for the Dogs’ Owner
Animal Care and Control officers returned to the neighborhood Thursday as authorities continued investigating where the dogs came from and who was responsible for them.
The identity and whereabouts of the dogs’ owner remained a focus of the investigation.
One victim, identified by WSOC as Angela Johnson, said she wants whoever was responsible for the animals to be held accountable.
The incident has also prompted neighbors to search for additional surveillance footage, including Ring camera recordings, that could help investigators reconstruct what happened.
“We’re trying to get answers,” Correa said, according to WSOC.
Video Raises Questions About What Happened
The newly released video provides an important piece of the timeline, but investigators have not publicly established every detail surrounding the dogs’ escape.
WBTV reported that surveillance footage from several houses away showed multiple dogs coming out of a U-Haul only minutes before the attack. However, the station noted that investigators were still working to confirm whether the dogs shown in that footage were the same animals involved in the attacks.
Authorities have not announced any criminal charges against the dogs’ owner as of Thursday evening.
North Carolina law requires dogs that have bitten a person to undergo a 10-day rabies quarantine. Dogs without current rabies vaccinations may be required to remain in a shelter or veterinary facility during that quarantine period.
Charlotte also has procedures for determining whether a dog should be classified as dangerous. Owners of dogs determined to be dangerous can face additional requirements, including secure fencing, liability insurance and warning signs.
Neighbors said the sheriff’s deputy’s decision to shoot one of the attacking dogs likely prevented additional injuries.
For residents of the northwest Charlotte neighborhood, however, questions remain about how seven dogs ended up loose in the first place and whether the incident could have been prevented.
Authorities are continuing to investigate, and no charges had been announced as of Thursday.
This is a developing story. More information will be added as authorities release additional details.
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