An investigator with the St. Joseph County Prosecutor's Office reportedly was attempting to serve a subpoena when, as a dog charged at him, the investigator shot the dog.

The dog was pronounced dead at the scene, according to a release issued by the St. Joseph County Prosecutor's Office.

Chief Investigator David Newton was attempting to serve the subpoena in the 600 block of Sancome Ave. in South Bend around 11 a.m. Friday. Newton knocked on the door of a home to serve a subpoena, and when there was no answer, he left the porch.

As he left, a child opened the door, and "two large breed dogs that appeared to be pit bulls ran out of the door." As the dogs exited the home, one of them reportedly ran at Newton with its "ears back and head down in an aggressive posture." Newton tried to get away from the dog, but said he was blocked by a brush pile.

That was when he drew his firearm and shot at the dog, hitting it in the head. The second dog reportedly ran away.

Newton called 911, and South Bend police arrived to take a report and photos.

South Bend Animal Care and Control also responded, and they reportedly told police the dead dog bit a child the day before and bit another child in April.

Friday night NewsCenter 16 spoke to an owner of the dog. She's heartbroken that her dog was killed and her daughter witnessed the whole thing.

"I walked up to my dog being dead and my daughter just traumatized by it," said owner Michelle Winship. "My daughter's probably going to be scared of cops now after all of that, you know? She's traumatized by what happened and I don't think that's right how it happened.

The dog's name was Smokey, and according to the owners and animal care and control, it had bitten a girl back in April and less than 24 hours before the incident with the investigator.

NewsCenter 16 also spoke to the mother of seven-year-old Kylah Wilson who was bitten multiple times the day before.

"I guess I could understand a dog bite, sometimes dogs are uncomfortable with strange children, but I mean it wasn't just a bite, it kind of tried to eat her," said Wilson's mother Rhandi Savko.

Winship said Smokey was just looking after her family like Princess, who had run away but come back home after the incident.

"Smokey's a family dog, he's going to be aggressive to somebody that he don't know, he's going to protect his family no matter what," said Winship. "Her parents were out here in the front yard and weren't paying attention and the dog got ahold of here and I grabbed the dog off of her."

"I don't want her to grow scared of dogs, period," said Savko. "My brother has dogs, everyone in my family has dogs. We all love animals."

Winship said her granddaughter was the other victim in April.

The Prosecutor's Office says it has requested copies of the reports taken at the scene and will review them to see if further action will be necessary.