A man was discovered dead on Tuesday morning, August 1, mauled by a pack of dogs on Hawaii’s Big Island.

The individual was identified as Robert Northrop, 71, from Ocean View Estates. The incident reportedly took place around 9 am.

A bystander, upon hearing a disturbance, approached the scene and observed four dogs assaulting Northrop in the roadway. The individual managed to deter the dogs and promptly contacted emergency services. Responding officers discovered Northrop unresponsive and initiated transportation to a nearby medical facility. Unfortunately, he was declared dead during transit.

Hawaii Police Chief Ben Moszkowicz stated that preliminary findings did not indicate any provocation from Northrop. The dogs, previously reported as strays, were linked to owners who were absent during the incident. The Hawaii County Animal Control and Protection Agency has since taken the dogs and an additional ten puppies into their care.

The dog owners may face legal consequences for failing to manage a potentially hazardous dog. If found guilty, penalties could include a decade-long prison term, monetary fines, and potential euthanasia for the dogs.