California Man Found Dead in Backyard Kennel After Being 'Attacked' by His Own Pit Bulls: Police

The victim was "mauled" following an "altercation between some of the dogs" as he was feeding them, police said

A California man is dead after he was reportedly attacked by his pit bulls.

The 35-year-old, who was believed to have been a pit bull breeder, was discovered in a kennel in his backyard in Compton early Friday morning, according to CBS News, KTLA and The Los Angeles Times.

At around 7 a.m. local time, police and paramedics responded to the home after a 911 caller told dispatchers that “her friend was seen in the backyard and appeared to have been mauled by his dog,” a spokesperson for the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department (LASD) told theTimes.

The LASD did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.

After arriving on the scene, officials found the man’s body in one of several kennels located in the backyard, footage captured by KTLA shows.

Also found in the backyard were 13 pit bulls, five adults and eight puppies, according to the Los Angeles County Department of Animal Care and Control, which now has custody of the dogs with the consent of the victim’s father.

The pit bulls will be impounded and examined at a nearby animal care center, the Times reported.

Using video obtained from cameras located around the property, officials determined that the attack likely occurred on Thursday evening between 7:30 p.m. and 8 p.m., KTLA reported.

Lt. Michael Gomez with LASD’s Homicide Bureau told KTLA that the death was likely the result of an altercation between the pit bulls.

“From my understanding and based on those that have reviewed the video, it's believed that he was feeding the dogs, at which point maybe there was an altercation between some of the dogs and then ultimately [the dogs] attacked and mauled the victim,” said Lt. Gomez.

The victim, whose identity has not yet been released, “ultimately died from his injuries," Lt. Gomez told CBS News.

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The L.A. County Department of Animal Care and Control is currently working to gather more details about the incident and its circumstances.

“Our deepest sympathies are extended to the family and friends of the victim,” the department’s director, Marcia Mayeda, said in a statement obtained by KTLA and the Times.

“We are committed to conducting a thorough investigation to determine the facts and ensure the safety and well-being of both the community and the animals involved,” Mayeda added.

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