Bottle of BBQ sauce helps Good Samaritan save Durham woman from dog attack

A Durham woman is lucky to be alive after she was attacked by three dogs in a freak accident.

Latasha Brunson was letting her friend’s dogs out when the animals turned on her. She said she survived thanks to the help of a neighbor who came to her aid in a big way.

Kevin Blomberg was in his backyard in Durham County when he saw the pit bulls in the next yard attacking Brunson.

“I heard someone screaming. I looked that way and I saw the three dogs and her,” Blomberg said. “She was yelling, ‘Get him off me, get him off me.’”

Blomberg called 911 and grabbed his gun.

“By this time, they drug her down to the ditch,” Blomberg said.

Blomberg fired shots into the ground in an attempt to scare the dogs away, but they wouldn’t stop. He got into his truck, got closer to Brunson and stayed on the phone with a 911 dispatcher.

“She kept telling me to wait for police. I can’t wait that long, they’re going to kill her,” he said.

Blomberg made a split-second decision.

“I put my gun out, took aim, hit the first one. He died immediately,” he said.

Blomberg shot and injured a second dog. He then opened the truck door to try to get Brunson, who was bloody and terrified, inside to safety, but the injured dog jumped in. Blomberg grabbed the only weapon he had at that point, a bottle of barbecue sauce.

“I had this on the floorboard and I picked it up and I kept hitting the dog in the nose,” he said.

Brunson survived the attack, but suffered serious injuries.

“If I didn’t take action, the dogs could have killed her,” Blomberg said.

The dogs’ owner, Jonathan Curry, said he is sad about the deaths of his dogs, but thankful Brunson is OK.

“It was a tragic and traumatizing situation for all parties, for everybody that was involved,” he said via phone from Australis, where he is working as a musician. “At the end of the day, I’m happy that my neighbor was able to make the decision that he thought was right to save and help Tasha, who is also our friend.”

Although Blomberg said he doesn’t feel like a hero, Brunson expressed deep gratitude for his help.

“I thank God that Kevin came to my rescue and acted quickly to save my life,” she said in a statement. “Although Kevin doesn’t see himself as a hero, he is one in my eyes. Not many people would have put themselves at risk to help another, so he is truly special. Kevin was truly a God send in my time of need.”

The Animal Services Division of the Durham County Sheriff’s Office investigated the attack and said no charges will be filed.

The dog who had been shot and wounded by Blomberg was later euthanized. The third dog, who authorities said was apparently not as involved in the attack as the other two animals, is alive and remains at the home.