Woman Killed In South Phoenix Dog Attack

PHOENIX, AZ — A 77-year-old woman was killed after she was attacked by a pack of dogs on the front porch of her home Tuesday morning, Phoenix police said.

Maria Ruiz was mauled by four Staffordshire Terrier mix dogs without any provocation just after 7 a.m., near the intersection of 6th Street and Broadway Road in south Phoenix, according to police.

The dog's owner, Alejandro Hernandez, had previously been contacted by Maricopa County Animal Care about his dogs escaping, with Hernandez receiving at least once license warning from the county, police said.

Hernandez was charged with negligent homicide in connection with Ruiz's death.

If convicted of negligent homicide, Hernandez faces a maximum sentence of nearly four years in prison.