Police: Man kills attacking pit bull, shoots himself in foot

Tribune Staff Report

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By Beth Boehne

Story Created: Dec 4, 2008 at 11:53 AM EST

Story Updated: Dec 4, 2008 at 11:53 AM EST

SOUTH BEND – A man shot and killed a pit bull dog Thursday morning and accidentally shot himself in the foot.

Police say Howard Broadway, 40, of South Bend, was at his girlfriend’s home at 1116 E. Sorin St., just north of Eddy Street, when he was attacked by the dog about 6:45 a.m.

Details of the dog attack aren’t known, but police were called to the home after a neighbor reported a shooting.

Officers arrived to find Broadway standing in the yard, holding a gun and suffering from a gunshot wound to the foot and dog bite marks on his arm.

Broadway told police that he shot and killed his girlfriend’s pit bull, a 22-month-old dog named King, after it attacked him. In the process, he inadvertently shot himself in the foot.

Broadway was taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injures while South Bend Animal Care and Control officers investigated the shooting.

Police said there likely will be no arrests in the case and that Broadway had a valid handgun permit.

Monday, Dec 8 at 9:05 PM J wrote ...

James dogs may not be people, but I like many dogs better then people since alot of people act like animals.

Monday, Dec 8 at 3:03 PM James wrote ...

to Lidia lyl 9:50 He was a changed person? here's the problem dogs are NOT human, there are great but NOT human. People who treat them as human have lost thier sense of reality. I like dogs and always have had them, but, any dog attacks or bites any of my family is not going to get kissed on the mouth. They are in fact animals.They are carinivors, they dont eat vegtables.I know there are far more good dogs than bad.To many kids have been killed from dogs. They are not to far from the wolf family

Saturday, Dec 6 at 12:04 AM straight up wrote ...

I guess the Pit Bull issue is like many other issues. They're great as long as they don't live around me.

Friday, Dec 5 at 11:57 PM Jake - South Bend wrote ...

1. The U.S. Constitution says we can bear arms. 2. There are plenty places where you can't bear arms, like Cuba, Russia & China. Get my drift???

Friday, Dec 5 at 8:22 PM who cares wrote ...

it is a dog, not a person. no one cares, unless they are alone, have no friends and only have a pet to keep them company. just another domesticated animal that is not barking and keeping people up. too bad, so sad

Friday, Dec 5 at 7:19 PM freddie wrote ...

the man's foot should not have been shot. It had nothing to do with the dog attack. Why shoot your own foot if it is innocent?

Friday, Dec 5 at 7:17 PM Mike wrote ...

You own a Siberian Tiger??? Yeah, and I own a Liger; bred for its skills in magic...

Friday, Dec 5 at 6:20 PM the big man wrote ...

I have a Siberian Tiger who wouldn't hurt a flee. He was trained properly and we treat him well. If he attacks, well, you probably provoked it somehow.

Friday, Dec 5 at 5:50 PM Anonymous wrote ...

I agree that the man had the right to defend himself against the dog. I don't believe that everyone should be armed. Then we get trigger happy cowards who want to shoot the first person who winks at them. Let's not get carried away. And for those who say they carry a gun anyway when going to South Bend...it's not the only bad place around here. Didn't a few cops get blown away in Mishawaka a couple of years back.

Friday, Dec 5 at 5:36 PM Krista wrote ...

pit bulls are not any more dangerous than their ignorant owners. My sister has two pit bulls and they are the most fun loving animals around. They love people. If they were mistreated in any way that would be why they are a threat to people, but if you raise them like you would any other dog then there is no problem. Quit being so ignorant and saying they're dangerous when you don't know unless you've been around them for years. GET EDUCATED BEFORE YOU SPEAK.

Friday, Dec 5 at 5:16 PM mentone reader wrote ...

Everyone is blaming the pit bull! The article did not state the facts. WHat did this guy do to this dog to get him to attack? Don't blame the dog unless you have all the facts. I have two pit bulls in my house! One is 9 years old and we have had him since he was 9 months old. THe other one is 11 months old. Get the facts before you blame the dog.

Friday, Dec 5 at 4:44 PM Anonymous wrote ...

AMEN 1:10 PM Anonymous.

Friday, Dec 5 at 4:19 PM J wrote ...

Great aim. Glad you shot yourself in the foot

Friday, Dec 5 at 2:29 PM dbag wrote ...

wsbt gustopo strikes again! let the editing begin

Friday, Dec 5 at 1:10 PM Anonymous wrote ...

you gun control idiots! you better stop and think about who saved this great country,the every day citizens that owned guns!think revolutionary and civil war!in case you havent noticed this country could be in huge trouble very soon from the bad economy,leaving us open for an attack or another depression! then who will defend you!in the next depression people who live without guns WILL BE KILLED OFF!it will be a fight for survival!!

Friday, Dec 5 at 12:26 PM Jon wrote ...

lynn, dogs are dumb and apparently you are too.

Friday, Dec 5 at 11:59 AM S wrote ...

First, if you feel you are endanger by any breed of I have been raised around pits since I was 5. I would trust them with my kids and house then I would any other dog. They are a great breed. Any breed of dog can turn mean. Just like kids they only turn out the way thay do by the way they are treated and raised. I lost one of my pits due to a heart disease. I got her when she was 2 years old and I just had a baby. She was the most gentle dog ever. Now I own a mix and he is the greatest dog too.

Friday, Dec 5 at 11:41 AM Lynn wrote ...

did anyone think maybe this guy was in the wrong and thats why the dog attacked him. Dogs aren't dumb, they sense when something is wrong.

Friday, Dec 5 at 11:33 AM Get a Clue! wrote ...

There you go again bee! It was attcking him. It was a Pit, so of course it was just defending it's master. Give me a break, they are evil dogs that can KILL! Even if they are your "sweet baby", it is inbred to "MAUL" people, so it's natural instincts kick in. Maybe the guy was just playing around with his girlfriend, most dogs would bark and posture a little, but a pit "ATTACKS". When are you dangerous dog owners going to wake up, it makes no sense and it puts the rest of us in harms way.

Friday, Dec 5 at 10:13 AM Gun Permit Owner. wrote ...

Wait until a vicious dog attacks your kid before your eyes, I'm pretty sure the dog's safety will not be a issue! THINK PEOPLE! And for god's sake, Get educated!

Friday, Dec 5 at 9:50 AM Lidia Lyl wrote ...

Marge your are so large marge to talk about pits going down to hell. Is there anywhere that says that pits are angels coming down from heaven above. Did you see the ladder that was from behind you? READ MY LIPS, KISS YOUR DOG IN THE MOUTH AND THEY WILL BEHAVE trust me. My chiwawa was so mean and angry at eveybody then I started to kiss him in the mouth and pet her like he was a baby. Then.. boom,, the change happened. He was another person. All have changed and now he is the most sweet and lovin

Friday, Dec 5 at 9:32 AM Anonymous wrote ...

He has a license to carry a handgun people, that is why he had one on him. He was attacked, he shot the dog. Simple story. Now when someone can remove all the guns from criminals and keep all animals from attacking we will have this happen. The next person I see getting killed by an animal I should probably just let it happen seeing how this guy is getting so many negative comments. Then we can use taxpayer money to put the dog down and have a funeral for that person. Is that better?

Friday, Dec 5 at 9:24 AM Anonymous wrote ...

People that don't know how to raise a dog of this breed should not own one. Dogs are not toys they have to be properly trained.

Friday, Dec 5 at 8:54 AM Peter Venkman wrote ...

Whoa, whoa, whoa! Nice shootin, Tex!

Friday, Dec 5 at 6:37 AM Anonymous wrote ...

6:48PM,i own a pitt bull and i am not a drug dealer or a scumbag dog fighter.we got her because this past summer our house got robbed.we love her and i bet noone will ever break in again.

Friday, Dec 5 at 5:22 AM Wild Card wrote ...

Gee, where does the man keep a loaded gun that he is able to shoot a dog first thing in the morning? Why was he at his g/f's house so early?

Friday, Dec 5 at 3:25 AM Plaxico Vick wrote ...

This story is pretty messed up man.

Friday, Dec 5 at 2:41 AM too bad wrote ...

it is too bad charlie weis wasn't around. now that is a dog's dream... Big meal

Friday, Dec 5 at 2:37 AM SPeddy wrote ...

Carz is not good for killin them ones. you gotta use some GUNS. Cuz then you know for sure! Cars is dangerous too but a car can't naw yur leg off and make you bleed to death. Speddy.

Friday, Dec 5 at 2:30 AM Lester wrote ...

Them pit bulls are too dangerous to be kept as pets. End of discussion. ya, dogs are nice to have around.. but the pit has been bred for an old obsolete purpose. Today we have just too many people around, too many kids. Pits are way too risky to be in the general population. They SHOULD be banned unless you have a LEGAL reason and a PERMIT to own one. We have to stop this Pit Bull Love nonsense. Kids are being MAULED every day!

Friday, Dec 5 at 1:26 AM Anonymous wrote ...

Sadly, too many of these kind of dogs (including pit bulls, dobermans, chows, german shepards and a few others) are known to be the family "baby" and then for some unknown reason turn and bite an innocent person. I've seen this happen too many times, and it's especially bad when the dog attacks a kid. It's very sad, but it's a fact. I've had to put down one of my own "babies" due to his turning aggressive towards innocent people.

Friday, Dec 5 at 12:43 AM fefy wrote ...

Don't you dare blame the pitbulls. I love pitbulls. They are my babies and would never hurt anyone. and they are so cute. I love them. Tho

Friday, Dec 5 at 12:24 AM Fonzie wrote ...

Owning a pit bull make me neat. Having one makes me feel like a tuffy. I'm a big tough guy. I don't take guff from namby pambies. People think I'm neat cause I'm ever so casual about living in a house with a pit bull. It's like I'm the Fonz!

Thursday, Dec 4 at 11:55 PM Anonymous wrote ...

I am for having your gun cause the criminals sure as heck wont give give them up why should we, but was he doing anything to his g/f it was her dog too right? but yeah they can turn on you like that my friends did it was her baby for years and one day just bit a kid on the leg for no reason cause he was walking in the front room there was a couple adults that saw it all agreeded he was innocent the kid its sad but it breed in them and I am an animal lover but they are not trust worthy

Thursday, Dec 4 at 11:51 PM i own one wrote ...

maybe some of you idiots should be reading the south bend tribune this week. they have a segment on pit bulls. for the undereducated, i would suggest pulling up the articles online from the past week. you would be surprised on what you learn about these dogs. the people who own pit bulls have trained them to be aggressive and attack. my best friend and i both have pit bulls and they are the most sweet loving animals you will ever know. oh and german shepards are rated as the most aggresive dogs.

Thursday, Dec 4 at 9:36 PM steve wrote ...

pit bulls are evil and offspring of the devil

Thursday, Dec 4 at 8:47 PM Anonymous wrote ...

large marge wow... your comment was so stupid you should be given another chance to post. try reading it first... selective reading. pure ignorance

Thursday, Dec 4 at 6:48 PM Anonymous wrote ...

Amen to the guy that noted that Pit Bulls should be extinct. This species of dog is worthless. They are used by drug dealers and scum bag dog fighters.

Thursday, Dec 4 at 6:17 PM steve-Plymouth wrote ...

Large Marge: where does it say he is an officer? The story sounds fishy, but if it was me or the dog bye bye dog!! I always carry when I go out, specially to South Bend, Mish. the police can't be every where to protect. I urge everybody to get a ccw and carry, the scum bags would think twice if they new more people carried a gun. But of course most of the shootings latly in S.B. have been drug,gang related so if if hang around this kind I don't feel sorry at all.

Thursday, Dec 4 at 6:10 PM jodeen wrote ...

kinda ironic that the paper has been running an article on pit bulls all this week and now someone has been attacked and shot the dog. i have a pit bull and she is a big baby, however, if she feels my (her)home or myself is treatened, she will protect me with everything she has. she has done it before. i would never give her up.

Thursday, Dec 4 at 5:33 PM Large Marge wrote ...

This poor little pit should not have been treated like this. At six fourty five am is too early to run over by a pit. Was he in the cold just to see his girl friend? Now whos gona pay for the officers injuries on his foot. He wont be able to walk, or talk because of the pain that was inflicted on himself. Owners of pits and other dangerous dogs that kill people. Please put them on a leash and READ MY LIPS.. THERE WILL BE MORE PITS GOING DOWN TO HELL because of your carelessness. Poor dog.

Thursday, Dec 4 at 4:29 PM ana wrote ...

pit bulls should be extinct, that is what they do. He deserved to be shot.

Thursday, Dec 4 at 4:19 PM bee wrote ...

it was his girlfriends dog.did any of you stop to think that maybe the dog was defending her.i mean he already had the gun in his hand or how else would he have shot the dog while it was attacking?it also states that details of the attack were unknown.sounds kinda funny.sounds like the dog was defending her.

Thursday, Dec 4 at 4:16 PM Peggy wrote ...

What happens to people who cant defend thereself against these vicious dogs.

Thursday, Dec 4 at 4:15 PM Anonymous wrote ...

Have to agree, we need more gun control - with more control one would not shoot himself in the foot.

Thursday, Dec 4 at 4:11 PM SIERRA wrote ...

YALL DONT KNOW WHAT HE DID TO THAT DOG...HE ALWAYS CARED FOR KING AND HE LOVED HIM...PEOPLE SHOULDNT SPEAK ABOUT SOMETHING THEY DONT KNOW NOTHING ABOUT!!!!!!!!

Thursday, Dec 4 at 3:22 PM Anonymous wrote ...

I have a license to carry a firearm and I can tell you if my life was jeopardy I would have emptied the gun on the dog. Funny how so many people value an animals life more than a humans.

Thursday, Dec 4 at 2:51 PM I Carry wrote ...

Typical irresponsible animal owner. Any dog that chases or tries to attack me will be shot dead.

Thursday, Dec 4 at 1:44 PM heard it here LAST wrote ...

GUN CONTROL if the guy did not have a gun he may be dead. . . I SAY ARM EVERYONE. . YOU WILL SEE HOW FAST EVERYONE BECOMES POLITE!!!

Thursday, Dec 4 at 1:40 PM bob wrote ...

amen josh and where would he be today if he had not had it also i would not enter the city of south bend without a gun

Thursday, Dec 4 at 1:28 PM Mel wrote ...

You gun control people are all crazy. HE HAD A GUN PERMIT...period.

Thursday, Dec 4 at 1:21 PM josh wrote ...

12:34 you are an idiot. He had a gun with a permit because you idiots in south bend cant behave yourselfs.

Thursday, Dec 4 at 1:21 PM Anonymous wrote ...

u people are so stupid

Thursday, Dec 4 at 1:15 PM wow wrote ...

yeah gun control is the answer here... are you people serious? This guy had to defend his life to a vicious dog that was attacking him. What else should he have done?

Thursday, Dec 4 at 1:12 PM Anonymous wrote ...

One more reason to BAN pitbulls!! again, it's not the bread, but it's how they are treated.

Thursday, Dec 4 at 1:01 PM Dog Lover wrote ...

I love dogs, but I can't blame the guy for using the firearm to protect his life.

Thursday, Dec 4 at 12:34 PM Anonymous wrote ...

Why the hell did he have a gun to begin with?! Imagine if the dog had the gun! BIG, BIG, MAN!

Thursday, Dec 4 at 12:33 PM Curt wrote ...

Thats right. The gun owner had no right to save his arm (or life) from the dog who was just looking for a meal. Maybe if he had just petted the poor puppys head for a while softly explaining that it's wrong to gnaw on humans...

Thursday, Dec 4 at 12:28 PM heard it here last wrote ...

another reason for dog control! Slaughter them and feed the hungry

Thursday, Dec 4 at 12:07 PM Heard it here first wrote ...

One more reason for gun control!

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