ZOO TRAGEDY: Two-Year-Old Boy Killed at Pittsburgh Zoo

A trip to the Pittsburgh zoo turned tragic on Sunday when a two-year-old boy fell off a railing his mother had put him on and was mauled by a pack of African painted dogs.

According to Barbara Baker, president and CEO of the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium, it's unclear if the boy died from the fall into the exhibit or from the attack.

Police Lieutenant Kevin Kraus said, "It was very horrific," adding that the dogs attacked "immediately" after the boy fell into the exhibit at about 11:45 a.m. Estimates by police and zoo officials said the boy fell from 14-to-11 feet before he was attacked.

Zoo officials and police responded after other visitors told the staff about the fallen boy. They were able to get seven dogs back in the building and draw three others away from the child, but a final dog was too aggressive and was shot by police.

POSTED BY: Marilyn