AURORA, Colo. -- Aurora SWAT officers shot and killed a pit bull that they said attacked them as they executed a search warrant early Tuesday morning.

The officers were attempting to enter a home in the 11000 block of East Fourth Way and announced themselves several times, according to Rudy Herrera, a police spokesman.

When the officers entered the home, they were attacked by the pit bull, he said. That's when they shot the dog, killing it.

Herrera said the search warrant was connected with a murder earlier this month in Aurora.

Police said the David Ray, 35, was found shot to death in front of an apartment complex in the 1900 block of Delmar Parkway on May 4. They were attempting to gather evidence in that case when they entered the home on Fourth Way.

There were people at home when the search warrant was served, but police made no arrests.