Witness recalls screams of NM woman mauled by dogs

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – A New Mexico woman who witnessed four pit bulls fatally maul another woman on Easter Sunday says she heard screams from inside her home, then rushed outside and saw that the victim had "big chunks missing" from her stomach and head.

Laura Russell says Thursday that Margaret Salcedo's arms were bitten to the bone. Russell phoned 911, and police in the community of Truth or Consequences have said an officer had to fire several shots at one of the dogs when it threatened him. That animal fled, wounded, and the officer was able to scatter the remaining dogs.

Russell says she brought towels to the injured 48-year-old woman before paramedics arrived. Salcedo died a few hours after she was attacked while taking a walk.