An elderly resident of Indianapolis, Indiana, Willie Mundine, was tragically killed on January 30, 2024, when he was assaulted by two dogs in his backyard located near Kenyon St. and Nimitz Dr. The 85-year-old man was trying to defend his wife from the dogs, who were initially targeting her.
Holly Watkins, Mundine’s granddaughter, revealed that her grandfather courageously stepped in when the dogs, described as one brown and one black and white and resembling pit bulls in appearance, started attacking her grandmother. However, this protective act led to a fatal encounter with the dogs.
Mundine suffered multiple bite injuries on his arms and legs and was found in a critical state. He was rushed to a nearby hospital where he eventually succumbed to his injuries. His death was confirmed by the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department (IMPD).
This tragic event has highlighted an underlying issue of stray and aggressive dogs plaguing the neighborhood. Mark Lowe, a local resident, had previously reported an attack by the same dogs to the Indianapolis Animal Care Services (IACS) and expressed frustration over the persistence of the problem despite his warnings.
In response to this incident, an IMPD officer shot one of the dogs to halt the attack. This dog is currently in the care of IACS and is receiving medical treatment. The hunt for the second dog, the one described as black and white, is still underway, with IMPD seeking the community’s help in identifying the dogs’ owners. They have also released a photograph of the brown dog involved in the attack.
There has been a concerning increase in the number of animal bite incidents in the community, according to data from IACS. The number of incidents increased from 720 in 2020 to more than 1,135 in 2023. The Mundine family has voiced their anxiety and worries about the regular threats posed by aggressive dogs in their neighborhood.
Furthermore, IACS has identified a trend of dog attacks in the area, including near school bus stops, raising questions about public safety. Following Mundine’s attack, the agency has intensified its search for the second dog.
IMPD, while urging the public to maintain caution around stray or aggressive dogs, has emphasized the need to identify whether the dogs are strays or have owners. Identifying the dogs’ owners is seen as a critical step in preventing similar incidents in the future.