At a Glance
- Court
- Albany County Court
- Case Type
- Sentencing
- Parties
- People v. Omar Daniels
- Jurisdiction
- Albany County, New York
- Date
- 2026-01-09
- Status
- Sentenced
A man was attacked and killed by several pit bull mixed-breed dogs in a backyard in Albany, New York, and police opened an investigation into whether criminal charges were warranted against those responsible for the animals. The case has since moved through the full arc of the criminal justice system, ending in a prison term for the dogs' owner.
Albany Police Chief Eric Hawkins said up to nine mixed-breed pit bulls attacked a man at approximately 6 p.m. on Oct. 9, 2024. The victim was identified as James Provost, 59, of Schenectady, New York. It was not known why he was in the yard, which was next door to the residence where the dogs were kept, Hawkins said. NBC News reported that an officer on scene witnessed the mauling and shot and killed an adult male dog, which caused the others to disperse, and the dogs' caretaker arrived shortly after and helped police corral the animals. [1] Provost was pronounced dead at the scene from internal injuries and bite wounds. [2]
Authorities found 24 dogs at the house adjacent to the attack site, including 15 puppies, eight adults, and one male that died from the officer's gunshot. None of the dogs were licensed; four had previously held licenses, but those had expired in March. [3] Albany police noted no prior animal complaints on record for the property, but the residence had drawn law enforcement attention before: in May 2024, officers executed a search warrant tied to drug activity and confiscated several dogs at that time. [3] The confiscated dogs were later returned to the owner. [3] The surviving 23 dogs were taken in by the Mohawk Hudson Humane Society.
Omar Daniels, 44, was indicted in Albany County Court in January 2025 on manslaughter and criminally negligent homicide charges, as well as three counts of aggravated cruelty to animals, stemming from the October attack. [4] Daniels admitted to owning the dogs and keeping them at the Albany property. [2] He had originally been charged with manslaughter, criminally negligent homicide, and aggravated cruelty to animals. [4]
Daniels was sentenced to two to four years in state prison after pleading guilty to criminally negligent homicide. [2] The sentencing judge said he did not believe Daniels intended for anyone to be attacked but found that Daniels's lack of care for the animals contributed to Provost's death. [2] The sentence will run consecutively to a current nine-year drug possession sentence Daniels is already serving. [2]
References
[1] NBC News. (2024, October 11). New York man fatally attacked by group of dogs in a backyard. https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/new-york-man-fatally-attacked-group-dogs-backyard-rcna175123
[2] News10 / WNYT / CBS6 Albany. (2026, January 9). Albany man sentenced for negligent homicide in deadly dog attack. https://www.news10.com/news/albany-county/albany-man-sentenced-for-negligent-homicide-in-deadly-dog-attack/
[3] Washington Times. (2024, October 11). Upstate New York man mauled, killed by pack of dogs. https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2024/oct/11/upstate-new-york-man-mauled-killed-by-pack-of-dogs/
[4] Spectrum News NY1 Capital Region. (2025, January 6). Man indicted in fatal Albany dog attack. https://spectrumlocalnews.com/nys/capital-region/news/2025/01/06/man-indicted-in-fatal-albany-dog-attack-