Police say a couple - a 51-year-old man along with a 43-year-old woman were walking their two dogs - a chihuahua and Eli, a pit bull, German Shepherd mix. Both animals were on a leash.

The suspect, with his three dogs, possibly pit bull terriers, were off leash. Witnesses say the suspect's dogs started biting the victim's dogs and there was an argument with the woman trying to separate the pack.

In a flash, the suspect allegedly pulled out a switch blade and repeatedly stabbed Eli.

"There was a dog on the ground that was dead, a lot of blood around it, a guy was trying to do something - and three other pit bulls without leashes...three pit bulls around him," said an eyewitness.

The suspect is described as a man wearing an orange shirt, orange hat and blue jeans. Officials say he fled the scene after the altercation.