2009 Fatality: 7-Month Old Boy Killed by Grandmother's Pit Bulls
Grandmother Named UPDATE 04/01/09: The grandmother has been identified as the toddler's 58-year old great-grandmother, Irma Barrera.
1 The two dogs have been identified as Cane and Wrinkle (both male and unaltered). Barrera said she placed the baby on her bed, then went into the kitchen to get a bottle for the child. That's when the pit bulls broke through the baby gate and attacked the baby. Barrera said she tried to stab the dogs with a knife to get them to release the baby.
03/31/09: Victim: Izaiah Gregory CoxThe victim has been identified as Izaiah Gregory Cox. Police said the incident started in the kitchen area, when the grandmother was warming a bottle for the boy. When she turned around, she saw her two pit bulls attacking him. A
separate article said the dogs "broke down the baby-gate" to reach the child. The grandmother grabbed a knife and fought the dogs off long enough to place him into a crib. Then the dogs turned on her.
When EMS crews arrived at the Ruiz street house, they had to
climb through a side window to get to the toddler, who later died at University Hospital. The dogs were shot to death by arriving police officers in the backyard, and their bodies were later taken away by animal control to be tested for rabies. The grandmother was also injured in the attack; she is still recovering at the hospital. It's still unclear if anyone at the home will face any charges.
Izaiah Cox Guest BookPlease see Izaiah Cox's
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Related ZUPF video03/31/09: Toddler Killed Under Grandmother's WatchSan Antonio, TX - In a developing story, a 7-month-old boy was attacked and killed by two pit bulls when the boy’s grandmother left the baby alone with her two dogs while she warmed a bottle. In the 3-year period of 2006-2008, DogsBite.org recorded 88 fatal dog attacks. 14% (12) of the fatal attacks involved a "watcher," a person such as a grandparent or babysitter watching the child between the ages of 0-4. Of these attacks, 75% (9) involved a grandparent type.
These occurrences are too frequent to ignore.
According to San Antonio Police Department Chief William McManus, emergency responders arrived on the scene of the dog attack, but couldn’t get past the two dogs (See:
Omaha firefighters). Several minutes later, police arrived and shot the two dogs in order to enter the house to treat the victims. The baby was taken to a hospital with "major bite wounds all over his body" and died shortly thereafter. The dogs also attacked their owner, the grandmother.
1107 Ruiz, the scene of the fatal pit bull attack. View slide show.Relatives said the grandmother frequently baby-sits her grandson, but said that when the baby is around, the dogs are usually outside, in a small, fenced-in yard. The dogs were kind to the grandmother, relatives said, but were aggressive toward others. One relative said the dogs bit her 8-year-old niece in the face once, and added she thought the dogs should have been put down then. A sign on the front gate warns pedestrians on the street to beware of the dogs.
Neighbors were unsurprised by the attack. "Are those dogs dangerous? You better believe it," said neighbor Larry Salazar, who gathered with several others after they heard the shots fired. Ramon Sanchez, whose grandmother lives next-door to where the attack took place, said the two dogs were at least 120 pounds each and were vicious. "Not even the mailman gets by that gate," Sanchez said. "I’m not surprised by the attack; I’m surprised that it took this long."
It is not known whether or not the boy’s grandmother will face charges in connection with the attack. A police investigation is under way.1The grandmother was originally identified as Irma Garcia.
Related articles:10/15/10:
Grandmother Charged in Fatal Pit Bull Mauling Dies Before Trial02/10/09:
UK Toddler Killed by Family Dogs Under Grandmother's Watch12/03/08:
2008 Fatality: 2-Year Old Boy Killed in Clark County, Nevada10/31/08:
Omaha Firefighters Receive Dangerous Pit Bull Training09/18/08:
2008 Fatality: Pit Bulls Fatally Maul 4-Month Old in Las Vegas
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