Police have identified the man killed in a brutal dog attack in Albany, but still have many questions about why he was there and what exactly happened.

James Provost, 59, of Schenectady, was killed in the attack that occurred Wednesday in the backyard of a home in the 500 block of Central Avenue.

Albany Police Chief Eric Hawkins said at a news conference that police received a call about a man being attacked by dogs in the backyard of a home around 5:55 p.m.

The first officer on scene saw the man being attacked by eight or nine mixed-breed pit bulls, Hawkins said.

“The officer fired his weapon in an attempt to stop the attack,” Hawkins said.

One of the dogs was killed. The other dogs ran away.

The caretaker of the dogs helped the police round up all the dogs. According to Hawkins, the owner of the dogs lives in Cohoes. He said there has been some cooperation from the owner and caretaker in the investigation.

The attack took place in the garden next to where the dogs were staying. According to police, 24 mixed-breed pit bulls lived there. Fifteen of them were puppies.

The 23 remaining dogs are staying at the Mohawk Hudson Humane Society. Hawkins said a judge will have to decide what happens to the dogs after the criminal investigation.

According to Hawkins, none of the dogs had the proper permits. Four of these had a license, but it expired in March.

Hawkins confirmed that police searched the property in May after receiving a complaint of drug activity. Five to seven dogs were seized at the time. It was not the result of malicious behavior, he said. The dogs were released.

They had no previous calls for animals at that location.

There were about four or five people living in at least one of the units.

Hawkins said his department is working with the Albany County District Attorney’s Office to see if criminal charges are warranted.

“It was a terrible attack. “Obviously, if you keep that many animals in a location that violates city ordinances, and some of those animals kill a person, there’s certainly a possibility,” he said.

Hawkins said the dogs were not raised in a “family atmosphere.”

“There are some very, very questionable activities going on at that site,” he said.

Investigators are still trying to determine why the victim was at the location and what his connection was to the residents.

“We are going to do everything we can to bring justice to this person who was viciously attacked,” he said.

NewsChannel 13 will bring you on-air and online updates on the case.