Malibu Mountain Lion Euthanized After Attacking Young Child

A California Department of Fish and Wildlife officer shot and killed a mountain lion after it attacked a 5-year-old boy at Malibu State Park near Los Angeles.

According to CBS News, park rangers and wildlife officers responded to the scene around 4:20 p.m. on Sept. 1 after the family called for help.

A CDFW statement reported that the children in the group were playing near the family's picnic table when the mountain lion grabbed the boy by the head and attempted to run away with him. Adults charged the lion, which released the boy and climbed up a nearby tree.

The lion was still in the tree when park rangers arrived. After consulting with CDFW officers, a park ranger shot the lion, which was deemed a threat to public safety.

The boy was airlifted to Northridge Hospital Medical Center in Los Angeles for treatment of his significant but non-life-threatening injuries. He was released early Sept. 2.

According to CDFW, before this attack, there have been two dozen documented mountain lion attacks in California dating back to 1986, and four were fatal.

The latest fatal attack occurred in March, when a mountain lion killed a 21-year-old man and injured his 18-year-old brother in northern California. That mountain lion was also euthanized.