LAS CRUCES, N.M. – Authorities say a baby girl has been fatally mauled by her family's dog in Las Cruces.
Las Cruces police say the child's grandmother appears to have been accidentally shot by a neighbor who was trying to stop the animal attack Tuesday afternoon.
The 16-month-old girl suffered multiple injuries to her head and chest and was rushed to a Las Cruces hospital, where she was pronounced dead.
Her name hasn't been released.
The girl's 52-year-old paternal grandmother received a gunshot wound to her leg and was transported to an El Paso hospital.
Police say the family's 2-year-old pit bull attacked the young girl in the backyard of her grandparent's residence. The girl's grandmother tried to intervene but was attacked by the dog.
The neighbor later shot and killed the dog.