DELAND, Fla. – An 8-year-old boy was killed Monday evening when he was attacked by two dogs in Volusia County, according to a news release.
Deputies said the attack was reported just before 5 p.m. in the area of Arabesque Drive and Airport Road, north of DeLand.
According to the release, witnesses called 911 and began CPR on the boy, “but he was not able to survive his injuries.”
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The sheriff’s office said that Volusia County Animal Services officers responded to the scene and captured both dogs – one described as a pit bull and the other a mixed breed.
JD Yambao, a resident of the subdivision and frequent runner, said he is heartbroken by the tragedy and concerned about safety in the neighborhood.
“Shocked, shocked,” Yambao said. “Especially in this neighborhood. We have a lot of kids here, and sometimes when I run, I see them playing around. It’s good to see kids playing, but to hear about this incident… it’s heartbreaking.”
Yambao revealed that just last week, he received a Ring notification about two aggressive dogs loose in the area. The alert warned neighbors that the dogs had killed a cat.
“I think the biggest thing is to keep an eye on your dogs. If you know they like to run around, get them trained, something, I don’t know,” Yambao said.
Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood said Tuesday that they were in contact with the state attorney to decide what charges the owner might face.
Chitwood says the owner has a criminal history but has not been arrested yet, so News 6 is not naming them.
Bodycam video below below shows deputies chase dogs believed to be involved in deadly attack.
As the community mourns, residents like Yambao are demanding answers about why previous concerns about the dogs weren’t addressed.
“It’s heartbreaking for the family that lost their child,” Yambao said. “If you live in our community and need anything, please reach out to us.”
However, both the sheriff’s office and Volusia County Animal Control said they need any information about whether these dogs were roaming around and whether they were aggressive. Chitwood said he has no prior 911 calls regarding the owner’s address or about the animals.
“As we went door-to-door last night, we heard horrific stories about how the dogs were always at large, how they destroyed chickens, and we’ve gotten information from another county that they were possibly involved in some other type of incident there,” Chitwood said.
According to the release, both dogs are being held in quarantine.
“I don’t know what anyone can say to ease the immense pain this family is feeling tonight,” Chitwood said. “This is a tragedy beyond comprehension, especially for those of us who are parents and grandparents. I can only ask our community to say a prayer of strength for this family and keep them in your hearts as they face their worst nightmare.”
A local family is dealing with tragedy tonight after a pair of dogs fatally attacked an 8-year-old boy north of...
Posted by Volusia Sheriff's Office on Monday, January 13, 2025
Deputies said that a joint investigation is underway to determine the circumstances of the attack.
“Just yesterday, I got the hug and kiss my grandkids 7-9 and tell them I love them,” Chitwood said. “Just think this family’s last act with their child was to ward off evil and perform CPR. This is unfathomable.”
This is a developing story. Check back with News 6 for the latest updates.
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