Lucy the pit bull died a hero last week in Fort Meyers, Fla. when a violent ex-boyfriend threatened her family member with a knife.

Lisa Potts, Lucy's owner's mother, found her ex-boyfriend Walter Williams in her home on Dec. 18, and an argument broke out. Williams became violent, and Potts screamed for help, so Lucy and Rodrick Gibbons, her owner, came running to her aid, reported Global News.

William punched Potts, smashed their TV and threatened her, and when he pulled out a knife, Lucy, 6, knew to attack. "Lucy lunged at [Williams] and once she lunged at him he caught her in the neck, and once he caught her in the neck she just went [on] biting him - she was still fighting him," Potts said.

Lucy's attack on Williams was enough to stop him, though she was injured in her effort to save Lisa's mother. Williams has since been charged with battery and is in custody, reported The Huffington Post.

"Once I got [Lucy] downstairs I just asked someone for a towel and applied much pressure that I could to it to try to save her life. I was calling [Lucy's] name, comforting her, rubbing her head, making sure she was still alert," Potts said.

"She was everything to me, like my little girl, my baby, my daughter. She knew who her family was, so she really did a good job," Gibbons said. "She did what she was supposed to do, and I am going to make sure that she leaves her name on this Earth."

Lucy died from her injuries in an animal hospital on Dec. 19, and she will be remembered by her family as a hero.