The Hawai‘i Police Department (HPD) has identified the victim of a fatal dog attack that occurred on Tuesday morning, August 1, 2023, in the Hawaiian Ocean View Estates subdivision as 71-year-old Robert Northrop of Ocean View.

At approximately 8:59 a.m., on Tuesday morning, Ka‘ū patrol officers responded to an animal complaint in the 92-2000 block of Outrigger Drive in the Hawaiian Ocean View Estates subdivision in Ocean View. Arriving officers observed a male victim, later identified as Northrop, lying unconscious in the roadway. Police located a witness who reported hearing a commotion outside his residence. When the witness went to check, he saw the victim being attacked in the roadway by four large dogs. The witness chased the dogs and called the police and paramedics to the scene. 

Northrop was treated at the scene by emergency medical personnel, however succumbed to his injuries while en route to the hospital.

“There is currently no evidence that the victim provoked this horrific attack,” said Hawai’i Police Chief Ben Moszkowicz. “This incident is a senseless tragedy that could have been avoided.”

The dogs’ owners were not home at the time of the attack; however, they have been identified and contacted by police. Investigators are looking into claims that the dogs had previously been reported as stray animals. In the meantime, the owners have surrendered all four dogs and a litter of 10 puppies to the Hawai’i County Animal Control and Protection Agency. 

Police are investigating this incident as a Negligent Failure to Control a Dangerous Dog case. HPD’s Area II Criminal Investigation Section is continuing their investigation as they await autopsy results to determine the exact cause of death.

The Hawai‘i Police Department encourages anyone with information relative to this investigation to contact Detective Donovan Kohara at (808) 326-4646 ext. 238, or via email at donovan.kohara@hawaiicounty.gov. They may also contact the police department’s non-emergency number at (808) 935-3311.