Post by RealPitBull on Apr 7, 2014 8:42:14 GMT -5
www.nj.com/passaic-county/index.ssf/2014/03/paterson_boy_13_killed_after_dog_attack_second_teen_hospitalized.html
By Seth Augenstein and James Queally /Star-Ledger Staff
PATERSON — A 13-year-old Paterson boy was killed this morning when a bull mastiff broke loose from its home and mauled him and another teenager near the Passaic River, prosecutors said.
The victims, who were not identified, were attacked in the area of Rossiter and Crosby avenues early on Saturday morning, according to Passaic County Assistant Prosecutor Michael DeMarco. The dog, described as a bull mastiff, attacked both children in the street, DeMarco said.
A 13-year-old boy that survived the attack was treated at St. Joseph's Medical Center in Paterson for a wound to his hand and released, said Paterson Detective Capt. Heriberto Rodriguez.
The two boys ran in different directions, according to Rodriguez. The exact cause of death for the 13-year-old victim killed is not known at this time, he said. The boy was reported missing and authorities found his body near Rossiter Avenue and Hill Street, by the river's edge, according to police.
Maria Zachus, whose apartment overlooks the river embankment where the body was found said she woke up just before midnight to footsteps behind her building. She saw the wounded teen, his arm bandaged, searching along the river's edge with a group of people, using cell phone flashlights to see.
"I'm looking for my friend," Zachus recalled the boy saying.
Someone called out, "He's here! He's here!" Zachus said and police showed up shortly after.
Zachus said she then heard a man yell out, "Not my son!"
The medical examiner's office will conduct an autopsy and issue a report.
John DeCando, Paterson's animal control officer, said the male dog weighed 115 pounds and was stabbed several times by the owner before being put down by animal control.
"The owner of the dog was bitten pretty bad on his hand," DeCando said. "The dog was humanely euthanized."
DeCando said the dog's body will be sent to Trenton to be tested for rabies among other things .
"The dog should have never have been on the street," DeCando said. "My heart really goes out the families. In 37 years this is the worst that I've seen."
Prosecutors have identified the owner of the dog, though it was not immediately clear how the animal escaped. Paterson police have not publicly named the dog's owner.
There was no relationship between the victims and the owner.
Criminal charges had not been filed as of 3 p.m.
Neighbors on Sherwood Avenue say a large police presence filled several streets in the area Friday and early this morning.
Orlando Cepeda said he and his wife Carmen Baez were walking near Sherwood Avenue and Crosby Avenue around 4 p.m. on Friday when they saw a teenage boy terrified and bleeding from his left hand.
"He said, 'a dog bit me'," Cepeda said. "He was running. He was scared."
Cepeda and Baez tried to dress the wound and asked the teen if they should call an ambulance. The teen said no and told them he was going home. They said the boy was covered in blood as a result of the wound.
Randy Billie, a retired Paterson police officer who lives around the corner form the dog, said the animal has hopped the fence of its yard before and attacked children. Last year, Billie said the animal attacked a teenager on Sherwood Avenue.
"It's nothing to play with. It's like a miniature horse," Billie said of the dog's size .
A driveway on Sherwood Avenue was splattered with blood today.
About 50 yards away, another neighbor, Jose Hernandez, said he saw ambulances, flood lights and police investigators on an embankment of the Passaic River at 2 a.m. He also pointed to blood stains on snow covering the embankment.
The neighborhood is in the Hillcrest section of Paterson, a middle-class enclave of single family homes, manicured lawns and trimmed hedges. Neighbors were out walking their dogs today. They said the area is usually one of the quieter sections of town.
Paterson Detective Capt. Heriberto Rodriguez said more information will be forthcoming later today.
The Paterson attack marks the second time this month a child has been grievously wounded in a dog attack.
Several weeks ago, a 10-year-old Newark boy was critically injured when he was left alone with two pitbulls in his father's apartment. The child suffered several bites and slashes before a neighbor broke down the door to rescue him. The victim's father, 41-year-old Enrique Carillo, was charged with child endangerment.
By Seth Augenstein and James Queally /Star-Ledger Staff
PATERSON — A 13-year-old Paterson boy was killed this morning when a bull mastiff broke loose from its home and mauled him and another teenager near the Passaic River, prosecutors said.
The victims, who were not identified, were attacked in the area of Rossiter and Crosby avenues early on Saturday morning, according to Passaic County Assistant Prosecutor Michael DeMarco. The dog, described as a bull mastiff, attacked both children in the street, DeMarco said.
A 13-year-old boy that survived the attack was treated at St. Joseph's Medical Center in Paterson for a wound to his hand and released, said Paterson Detective Capt. Heriberto Rodriguez.
The two boys ran in different directions, according to Rodriguez. The exact cause of death for the 13-year-old victim killed is not known at this time, he said. The boy was reported missing and authorities found his body near Rossiter Avenue and Hill Street, by the river's edge, according to police.
Maria Zachus, whose apartment overlooks the river embankment where the body was found said she woke up just before midnight to footsteps behind her building. She saw the wounded teen, his arm bandaged, searching along the river's edge with a group of people, using cell phone flashlights to see.
"I'm looking for my friend," Zachus recalled the boy saying.
Someone called out, "He's here! He's here!" Zachus said and police showed up shortly after.
Zachus said she then heard a man yell out, "Not my son!"
The medical examiner's office will conduct an autopsy and issue a report.
John DeCando, Paterson's animal control officer, said the male dog weighed 115 pounds and was stabbed several times by the owner before being put down by animal control.
"The owner of the dog was bitten pretty bad on his hand," DeCando said. "The dog was humanely euthanized."
DeCando said the dog's body will be sent to Trenton to be tested for rabies among other things .
"The dog should have never have been on the street," DeCando said. "My heart really goes out the families. In 37 years this is the worst that I've seen."
Prosecutors have identified the owner of the dog, though it was not immediately clear how the animal escaped. Paterson police have not publicly named the dog's owner.
There was no relationship between the victims and the owner.
Criminal charges had not been filed as of 3 p.m.
Neighbors on Sherwood Avenue say a large police presence filled several streets in the area Friday and early this morning.
Orlando Cepeda said he and his wife Carmen Baez were walking near Sherwood Avenue and Crosby Avenue around 4 p.m. on Friday when they saw a teenage boy terrified and bleeding from his left hand.
"He said, 'a dog bit me'," Cepeda said. "He was running. He was scared."
Cepeda and Baez tried to dress the wound and asked the teen if they should call an ambulance. The teen said no and told them he was going home. They said the boy was covered in blood as a result of the wound.
Randy Billie, a retired Paterson police officer who lives around the corner form the dog, said the animal has hopped the fence of its yard before and attacked children. Last year, Billie said the animal attacked a teenager on Sherwood Avenue.
"It's nothing to play with. It's like a miniature horse," Billie said of the dog's size .
A driveway on Sherwood Avenue was splattered with blood today.
About 50 yards away, another neighbor, Jose Hernandez, said he saw ambulances, flood lights and police investigators on an embankment of the Passaic River at 2 a.m. He also pointed to blood stains on snow covering the embankment.
The neighborhood is in the Hillcrest section of Paterson, a middle-class enclave of single family homes, manicured lawns and trimmed hedges. Neighbors were out walking their dogs today. They said the area is usually one of the quieter sections of town.
Paterson Detective Capt. Heriberto Rodriguez said more information will be forthcoming later today.
The Paterson attack marks the second time this month a child has been grievously wounded in a dog attack.
Several weeks ago, a 10-year-old Newark boy was critically injured when he was left alone with two pitbulls in his father's apartment. The child suffered several bites and slashes before a neighbor broke down the door to rescue him. The victim's father, 41-year-old Enrique Carillo, was charged with child endangerment.