WASHINGTON - A woman is fighting for her life Monday night after she was viciously attacked by a pit bull in Southeast D.C., police report.

According to police, the woman, who sources say appeared to be in her sixties, was rushed to the hospital in critical condition. The crime scene extended through the alley to neighbor Bill Howard's backyard.

"They won't let me back there it's all blocked off," Howard described. "All I see is a bunch of blood at [the] top of my basement steps."

Emergency responders say it looked like the dog focused the attack on the woman's head. She was severely bitten on her face, neck and head. Authorities are trying to identity her, while residents are very thankful an off-duty police officer was nearby.

Police say only one of two pit bulls attacked the woman in an alley just off Southern Avenue SE. They say the dog was loose and not in the owner's fenced-in backyard. It is not known how long the mauling lasted, but help arrived when a neighbor ran to the home of the off-duty police officer. The officer ran into the alley and radioed for help.

Police report the victim was down on the ground when at least three officers arrived and shot at the dog. It is unclear if the pit bull charged at officers or if it was set to attack the woman again. During the shooting, one officer was grazed in the face by what is believed to be flying debris.

Investigators say officers shot the dog at least four times, but it was still alive when animal control arrived. The family's second pit bull was taken as a matter of procedure. The family had no comment, but many residents in the neighborhood say they are familiar with the dogs.

The officer who was injured was taken to the hospital and is expected to be fine. As for the off-duty officer who helped out during the attack, residents say she is a good neighbor and that's the exact kind of thing they'd expect her to do.

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