Cops: Pit bull menaces schoolkid, is shot and killed

A pit bull dog was shot and killed Tuesday by a Setauket man who said the dog was threatening a little girl who had just gotten off a school bus, police said.

Timothy Devine, 43, of Quail Lane, called 911 at 2:47 p.m., police said, and told them there was a loose white pit bull chasing people in the area who were waiting for children to get home from school.

A police car was dispatched but before it arrived, police said, Devine called 911 again at 2:57 p.m. and said he shot the dog, which was threatening a girl who got off the bus.

Devine has a registered handgun, police said. He told police he got the handgun from his house after he heard children from the bus screaming. Devine told police he attracted the dog toward him and away from one girl who was a particular target of the dog, the animal followed Devine back toward his home, police said.

The dog got within 5 feet of him, said Devine, who shot the animal once. The wounded pit bull went back toward its own home on Partridge Lane and died on some steps leading to a doorway, police said.

The owner of the pit bull could not be reached for comment. A woman who answered the telephone at the Devine residence would not comment.

Suffolk police said the investigation is continuing. No charges have been filed.