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A woman was attacked by a pit bull in Cleveland Park on Sunday, and D.C. police later shot the animal, according to an MPD statement.

The incident took place at approximately 5:30 p.m. on Sunday, when members of the Second District responded to a report of a dog attack in the 3400 block of Quebec Street NW. Police said that prior to their arrival, a witness told them he had heard a woman screaming for help, and managed to pull the dog off her and secure the animal in a cage.

But according to the police statement, during the course of the investigation, the dog somehow managed to get out of the cage and charged toward one of the responding officers. The officer, a 39-year-old sergeant who police did not name, then shot and injured the dog.

The dog attack victim, an adult female, was taken to a nearby hospital in stable condition, police said. The dog was subsequently euthanized by Animal Control officers.

D.C. Police Chief Cathy Lanier called the shooting “a tragic incident,” but commended the resident who saved the attack victim, as well as the sergeant, who she said “stopped the dog from attacking anyone else.”