2024 Dog Bite Fatality: Elderly Pastor Dies After Violent Dog Attack in East Indianapolis

Willie Mundine, a pastor at the Faith Tabernacle Apostolic Church, died after a violent dog attack.

Another Victim Emerges
UPDATE 02/03/24: While Indianapolis Animal Care Services continues to search for the second dog involved in the attack that killed Willie Mundine on January 30, a new victim has emerged who was attacked by two dogs "just yards away" from where Mundine was attacked a day earlier and remains hospitalized from his injuries. After seeing the picture of one of the dogs released by police, 64-year old Richard Hayes believes the dogs that attacked him are the same ones that attacked Mundine.

Hayes taking a morning walk when the dogs attacked. "He was bitten down to his bones. He's going to have a long recovery, as if his disabilities already weren't enough," his sister Joyce told WTHR. People driving by in a van stopped to help him. "I believe he is alive today because they stopped and got involved and got him the help he needed," Joyce said. Hayes, who has special needs, is preparing for his second surgery. His family anticipates he will need to use a wheelchair and undergo therapy.

01/31/24: Man Dies After Dog Attack
Indianapolis, IN - An 85-year old man is dead after a string of attacks by the same two dogs, described as pit bulls, on the east side of Indianapolis. On Tuesday, IMPD officers were dispatched to the 2300 block of North Kenyon Street around 9:55 am for a report of an aggressive dog attacking a man. An arriving officer fired his weapon, hitting one dog, to stop the attack. The victim, identified as Willie Mundine, 85, was transported to a nearby hospital with critical injuries, where he later died.

Indianapolis Animal Care Services (IACS) impounded the dog shot by police, which was injured but "alert," according to news reports. As of Tuesday night, authorities continue to search for the second dog, a brown pit bull. A day before the attack, IACS had received a complaint about two loose dogs, a black pit bull and a brown pit bull attacking people and other dogs on Indianapolis' near northeast side, according to a news release by the city. Officers were unable to locate those dogs on Monday.

Indianapolis Animal Care Services (IACS) Animal Control Officers (ACOs) did receive a complaint yesterday and investigated reports of what was described as one brown and one black pitbull-type dog attacking people and dogs on the city’s near northeast side. Officers were unable to locate the dogs in question at that time. According to procedure, IACS established a “sweep” schedule wherein officers would be dispatched to the area those animals were last seen between three to four times a day for the next 10 days.

An ACO was in the area searching for those dogs today before a new report came in that two dogs were attacking a person in the 2300 block of North Kenyon Street. After an ACO and EMS arrived on-scene, they requested IMPD and additional ACOs to assist. IMPD officers arrived and located a victim with injuries consistent with multiple dog bites. The victim was transported to an area hospital in critical condition. An IMPD officer discharged their firearm at the aggressive dog, and an ACO did locate the wounded black dog to impound it.

ACOs are still working to locate and impound the other dog. If individuals in the area see a loose brown dog, they are instructed to call the Mayor’s Action Center at 317- 327-4622 or file a report through RequestIndy. - Kurt Christian, Chief Communications Officer, Indianapolis Animal Care Services

Mundine was a pastor at the Faith Tabernacle Apostolic Church along with his wife. The dogs attacked him while he was in his own yard. His granddaughter, Hollie Watkins, said, "It was just horrifying, scary. I've never seen him like that. I will never forget those cries." When the dogs approached family members, they ran inside, but Mundine stayed outside to try to get the dogs off the property. "We just heard him screaming and we went back there and they were attacking him," Watkins said.

An IMPD officer fired on one of the dogs after arriving on scene. IACS later took over the investigation. At the time of the attack, IACS had already established a "sweep" schedule one block away "wherein officers would be dispatched to the area those animals were last seen between three to four times a day for the next 10 days," due to the complaints on Monday. After Mundine was attacked Tuesday morning, IACS officers spent several hours patrolling the area looking for additional loose dogs.

WTHR interviewed Mundine's wife. Betty said when they arrived home, there were three dogs in their yard. The dogs ran toward them. Betty was able to get inside, but the dogs attacked Mundine. "He saved my life. He was a hero," Betty said. Conflicting media reports state the second pit bull involved in the attack has been captured and others state the dog remains at large. On Wednesday, IMPD released a photo of a dark brown/black pit bull, asking for the public to help identify its owner.

Second Dog Still Loose

An update from the Indianapolis Star clarifies that authorities are still searching for the second dog. IACS officers continue to patrol the North Kenyon Street area where Mundine was attacked by two pit bulls on Tuesday. He was transported to Sidney & Lois Eskenazi Hospital, where he died shortly after arriving. The Marion County Coroner's Office ruled that multiple dog bites caused Mundine's death. The manner of death was an accident. The owners of the dogs involved have not been identified.

WIXN spoke to Mark Lowe who said the same dogs attacked him and his dog last week. "They came and attacked us from the back. We didn't see them coming," Lowe said. One of the dogs bit his arm. WIXN showed him footage of a black pit bull with a white chest, which has been evading capture. Lowe said it was the same dog. After his attack, he reported the dogs to IACS. He wished the dogs had been captured before the deadly attack on Tuesday. "I wish I could have done more," Lowe said.

Lowe also spoke to WTHR. He said he was walking his dog "Dante" last week when they were ambushed by the two pit bulls. "They just grabbed him, first of all, the pit did and started taking him to the ground, fighting him," Lowe said. He started punching the dogs, and that's when the black pit bull started attacking him. A neighbor came to his rescue and scareed off the dogs. Afterward, Lowe reported the attack to IACS. "I told the Animal Control that these dogs are going to kill somebody."

Willie Mundine, 85-years old, was a pastor at the Faith Tabernacle Apostolic Church. On Wednesday, IMPD released an image of one of the dogs involved in the deadly attack

The second dog involved, a black and white pit bull, continues to evade being captured.

View the DogsBite.org Google State Map: Indiana Fatal Pit Bull Attacks.

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