DeKalb County spokesman Jason Gagnon confirmed to Channel 2 Action News reporter Linda Stouffer that an 8-year-old girl was attacked by two dogs in Lithonia Tuesday afternoon. Police confirmed that the dogs were a mixed breed Staffordshire terriers.

The incident happened in the 2000 block of Margaret Court near Union Grove Road.

According to investigators, a police sergeant arrived at the scene Tuesday afternoon and witnessed the dogs attacking the girl. The officer was able to fight the dogs off of the girl with a baton, investigators said.

The child has been identified as Erin Ingraham, said DeKalb County Police spokesman Jason Gagnon.

Animal control officers told Stouffer that one of the dogs was shot and killed by police when it tried to attack again. The other dog was taken into custody.

Animal Control units and DeKalb County police are investigating the incident.

Erin was taken to Children's Healthcare Of Atlanta At Egleston in critical condition with severe injuries to her arms.

One neighbor said the dogs had killed her cat.

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