Updated 2:30 p.m. – St. Petersburg police are investigating the suspicious death of a 52-year-old man who was found bleeding in a roadway Wednesday evening, October 14, 2026.
Officers responded at approximately 8:17 p.m. to the 2500 block of Quincy Street South after receiving a report of a seriously injured man lying in the road surrounded by blood.
Upon arrival, officers found the man bleeding in the roadway with a medium-sized pit bull-mix dog on a leash beside him. Police said the dog kept emergency personnel from reaching the injured man.
Police said the dog became increasingly agitated and began aggressively biting the victim. At approximately 8:26 p.m., an officer discharged his firearm, fatally shooting the dog to allow emergency personnel to reach the man.
The victim was pronounced dead at the scene. Investigators subsequently determined that the dog belonged to the victim.
The circumstances leading to the man’s injuries and death remain under investigation. Preliminary autopsy findings indicate he suffered life-threatening dog bites to his neck and shoulder. The Department said there are no other signs of foul play at this time. The Medical Examiner’s Office will determine the official cause of death.
Detectives with the St. Petersburg Police Department continue investigating what occurred.
The victim’s identity has not been released.
