UPDATE: Child Killed In Pittsburgh Zoo Exhibit

A child was killed at The Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium Sunday after falling into the African painted dogs exhibit and was mauled, according to the Post-Gazette.

WTAE reporter Ashlie Hardway tweeted that her sources say a mother was holding her 3-year-old son up to see the African painted dogs and he leaned forward and fell in.

______

UPDATE 6:10 p.m.: KDKA reported the victim is a 2-year-old boy from Pleasant Hills. His mother was balancing her son on a railing when he fell more than 11 feet, missing the catch barrier, into the exhibit with 11 African painted dogs.

Investigators said the boy "had no chance," according to the KDKA report.

According to the zoo's president and CEO, zookeepers "did their best" to get the animals away from the boy. Police shot and killed one of the dogs being "extremely aggressive."

The mother and father of the boy were medically treated for trauma. According to WPXI, the father was not at the zoo during the time of the accident.

A witness at the zoo told the Tribune Review, “They were saying, ‘Get away. Stay away!’ It wasn’t one person, it was an entire group of people screaming ... Eventually the screams were heavily distressed. There was profanity.”

Two witnesses told North Hills Patch what they saw. Click here for story.

_______

The Post-Gazette reports that a police officer shot and killed at least one of the animals and that the zoo was shut down early today.

Zoo Director Barbara Baker said the child, who was about 3 years old, fell over a railing and off of a mesh barrier where the painted dogs were on display."

African painted dogs are an endangered species, according to the zoo's website. Earlier this year, the zoo closed when the painted dogs reportedly escaped from their area.

The boy's identity has not been released.

The Pittsburgh Zoo tweeted that the "accident is under investigation by both the zoo and the Pittsburgh Police Department. The zoo will remain closed until further notice."

On the zoo's Facebook page, this statement was posted: "It is with heavy hearts we report that a tragic accident occurred this morning at 11:45 a.m. when a young child fell into the African painted dog exhibit area and was killed. The accident is under investigation by both the Zoo and the Pittsburgh Police Department. The Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium will remain closed until further notice."

Patch will be monitoring developments on this story. Check back later for updates.