A Texas college student was mauled to death in a “vicious dog attack” while pet-sitting three pit bulls, who her grieving mother said all “seemed to love her” before the dogs’ inexplicable heel turn on Friday.

Madison Riley, 23, was found dead in the backyard of a residential home in Tyler, Texas at around 4:15 p.m. Friday, police told WFAA .

A neighbor called 911, and deputies with the Smith County Sheriff’s Office responded to the scene, KYTX reported. By that point, the three pit bulls had already pounced on Riley.

“The dogs then diverted their attention. All three of them to him. Started coming toward him, and he unholstered his weapon, service weapon, and he fired at one of the dogs, killing it,” Sergeant Larry Christian, a public information officer with the Smith County Sheri

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