Thursday afternoon, four children and an adult were attacked by a pit bull that got out of his home.  It took four hours to capture the dog after the attack, which left some children in the neighborhood scared to go outside.

What started out as a carefree afternoon of play turned into a nightmare.  As boys and girl were playing, a two-year-old pit bull named Athena, ran out of her home and headed straight for nine-year-old Alex Campbell who was playing with a toy gun he had gotten for Christmas.

“I heard the dog squeal a little and he came under the gun.  The second time I swung at him, he bit the corner of my ankle,” he says.

The dog then charged toward Alex’s seven-year-old sister Shelby and her friend, ripping the girl’s pants.

As the dog circled and attacked the two girls, Shelby’s mother and the girlfriend of the dog’s owner ran towards them.  The dog bit Alicia Campbell on the hand.

Police kept everyone out of the area for several hours while animal control tried to catch the pit bull.  While none of the injuries are serious, neighbors are angry.  Athena’ owner tell WHAS11 News that the dog had never been vicious before.

The dog was put down Thursday night and its body was sent to the state lab to be tested for disease.