Fulton County police shot and killed a pit bull overnight after the dog attacked a prowling suspect being chased by officers.

Officers were called to a neighborhood off Old National Highway by a resident who noticed a man walking through the area looking into parked cars, Fulton police spokesman Scott McBride told the AJC.

When officers approached the suspect, he fled, leading them on a foot chase to the yard of a home on Sturbridge Way.

After handcuffing the suspect, officers heard a commotion inside the home, and a man who was visiting the home came out and fired a gun into the air, McBride said.

Officers identified themselves, and the man went back inside. About the same time, the homeowner let his pit bull out the door.

"The dog attacked the suspect and the officer had no choice but to shoot the dog and kill him," McBride said.

The prowling suspect, 31-year-old Meco Brown of College Park, suffered a "pretty serious" dog bite to the neck, and was taken to Grady Memorial Hospital for treatment. He was charged with obstruction.

The visitor who shot into the air, Christopher Rich, 27, of Fairburn, was also arrested for firing the weapon.