KANSAS CITY, KAN. ? A pit bull leaped over a fence and attacked and killed a 71-year-old woman who was gardening in her yard, police said Thursday.

Jimmie May McConnell was in her yard about 11:30 a.m. when the dog jumped the fence and attacked her. Firefighters who arrived at the scene had to get the dog off McConnell. She was taken to a hospital, where she was pronounced dead, police said.

Pit bulls are banned in Kansas City, Kan. The dog was tranquilized and taken into animal custody for investigation, police said.

Five recent pit bull attacks in nearby Independence, Mo., have injured three men. A pit bull was also recently shot to death in Independence when it charged a police officer.