A 75-year-old Astoria woman was pronounced dead on Monday after apparently being attacked by her mastiff, police said.
Officers from the 114th Precinct responded to a call at a home in the vicinity of 38th Avenue and 27th Street at about 12:58 a.m. and found the woman, who was unconscious and unresponsive with trauma to her upper torso.
Louise Hermida, 75, was transported to Cornell Hospital, where she was pronounced dead.
According to an NYPD spokesperson, her 39-year-old son was also found at the house with trauma to his left leg and taken to Cornell Hospital in stable condition.
Police could not confirm what caused the mastiff to lash out at its owner. According to Katy Hansen, spokesperson for Animal Care Centers of NYC (ACC), the dog was adopted from ACC almost six years ago when he was a one year old. He is currently at the Manhattan ACC location.
The New York City Medical Examiner will determine the cause of death; an investigation is ongoing.
