Posted on November 19, 2024 by Colleen Lynn

2024 Dog Bite Fatality: Family Pit Bull Attacks Owners, Killing One, Injures Two Police Officers in Boston

Jeriline McGinnis, 73-years old, died late Monday after being attacked by her own pit bull.

Multi-Victim Attack
Boston, MA - A woman is dead after being mauled by a family pit bull. The dog also attacked her husband and two police officers. First responders were dispatched to a multi-family home on Dennison Street around 4:50 pm Monday after reports that an aggressive dog attacked its owners -- a man and woman -- inside the home. The dog then attacked two officers who arrived at the scene. Officers fired on the vicious dog, injuring it. The woman, Jeriline Brady McGinnis, 73-years old, died late Monday.

"Obviously the dog, given what he did to the two victims, the owners of the dogs, the officers made the decision to discharge and put the dog down," Boston Police Deputy Superintendent Paul McLaughlin said. After the multi-victim attack, animal control removed three other dogs -- all pit bulls -- from the home. McGinnis had owned pit bulls for over 10 years, according to her multiple Facebook pages. In August, she posted a video of her three pit bulls playing in the snow in her front yard.

Surveillance video obtained by news stations captured the dog confronting the officers. One neighbor, who was not identified, said he heard three shots fired. "I heard two shots, and I saw that the dog was down. About a minute or so later, less than that, I heard a third shot," he said. A source told WBZ-TV the dog latched onto McGinnis' arm, nearly taking it off. When her husband jumped into save her, he also attacked. Last night at the scene, police said the husband sustained "very serious injuries."

The multi-family home is owned by civil rights leader Jean McGuire. She was walking her own dog in a nearby park when a pit bull named "Deuce" attacked McGinnis and her husband in their first-floor unit. "She’s a wonderful person. A very generous, a very loving person. Loved animals," McGuire said of McGuire. "I’ve lost my sister. She’s a sister." McGuire also said the couple "put them in cages" to keep the dogs from fighting, indicating the other three pit bulls may have been kenneled during the attack.

Had Dogs for 6 Years

NBC Boston reports that McGinnis was living in the home with four pit bulls that her son allegedly brought home about six years ago. McGinnis had owned a similar pit bull, "Buddha," since 2014. McGuire, who lives upstairs, had concerns about the dogs. "They had too many dogs," she said, shaking her head. Neighbors said the dogs "bark all night" and did not seem socialized. McGinnis' husband remains in the ICU at an area hospital. The city euthanized Deuce,1 the attacking dog.

An updated report identified her husband as Leon McGinnis. McGuire said that she has been renting to the couple for decades, who live downstairs with one of their three sons. In a telephone interview with the Boston Globe, McGuire said she doesn't know what unfolded. "I don’t know what happened, and until I find out from Leon, I won’t know," she said. McGuire also described the couple of having "a pit bull family." She added that the McGinnis’s would breed the dogs and sell the pit bull puppies.

put bull attacks owners killing one in Boston

McGinnis often posted her dogs to Facebook groups like Staffordshire Bull Terrier Lovers and Tiggers Outlaw Bullies. The dog in the right panel column could be "Deuce."

The multi-family home on Dennison St. where a pit bull killed its owner, Jeriline McGinnis

View the DogsBite.org Google State Map: Massachusetts Fatal Pit Bull Attacks.

1CBS News states that Buddha is the killer. That would mean the dog is at least 10-years old. However, McGinnis also called this dog "Buddha" (who is possibly Buddha Junior) in a Facebook reel.

Baseline reporting requirements:
Law enforcement departments across the United States should release consistent "baseline" information to the media and the public after each fatal dog mauling, including these items.

Posted on November 9, 2024 by Colleen Lynn

2024 Dogs Bite Fatality: Woman Killed by Two Pit Bulls Taken in as Strays in Fontana, California

Juanita Sanchez, 35-years old, was killed by two pit bulls in Fontana.

Pit Bulls Kill Woman
Fontana, CA - A 35-year old woman died on November 3 after being bitten in the neck by two pit bulls. The is the second fatal pit bull attack in San Bernardino County that occurred on November 3. A homeless man, still unidentified by police, was stabbed and mauled by pit bulls in Perris Hill Park in the city of San Bernardino on the same day. The news article reporting the death of Juanita Sanchez, 35, of Pomona, remains behind a paywall. But Reddit and the PressBee have published much of it.

Police and paramedics were dispatched to a home in the 13800 block of Jurupa Avenue around 3:00 am Sunday. Sanchez and another resident had been in the backyard when two of the pit bulls bit Sanchez in the neck, Sgt. Nathan Weiske said, a Fontana Police Department spokesperson. Two other people were injured trying to rescue Sanchez. "They were feverishly trying to pull them off her," Weiske said. The family had taken in four stray pit bulls some months earlier, Weiske said.

The family had later asked Sanchez, a family friend, to live with them. According to Weiske, there had been no problems between Sanchez and the dogs. Animal control officers euthanized both dogs, Weiske said. It's unclear if the other two pit bulls remained at the home. Investigators determined that no criminal charges were warranted. "They could tell it was just a tragic accident," Weiske said. Sanchez was pronounced dead after being transported to Arrowhead Regional Medical Center.

Victims Ages 30-49 Years Rising

Sanchez's death marks another rise of deaths in the 30-49 year old age group. In our data, dog bite fatalities in this age group have been rising since 2010, mainly driven by females. But ages 30-49 years has never rivaled ages 50-69 years. In 2024, the 30-49 age group is heavily driven by males. 80% of these men were Black or Hispanic, and 80% of these cases involved pit bulls. The Perris Hill Park homeless male victim is excluded because his age, race, and cause of death are unknown.

2024 dog bite fatalities by age, gender and pit bull deaths

So far in 2024, deaths in the 30-49 years age group are dominated by male victims.

View the DogsBite.org Google Map: California Fatal Pit Bull Maulings.

Posted on November 8, 2024 by Colleen Lynn

2024 Dog Bite Fatality: Kansas City Man Dies After Being Attacked by Vicious Dog Pack While Riding his Bicycle

Chris Culbertson, 46, died after being attacked by a vicious dog pack while riding his bicycle.

Habitual Offender
UPDATE 10/15/24: The Kansas City Star reports that police had received over 15 complaints about the pack of pit bulls living in the 3200 block East 80th Street prior to the dogs attacking Chris Culbertson, but no action had been taken by the city's animal control service, KC Pet Project. On November 2, Culbertson was on his bike when he was savagely attacked by seven pit bulls for 23 minutes. A female neighbor ran to help him, hitting the dogs with a golf club, but the dogs then started biting her.

After viewing the surveillance video of the attack, Culbertson's sister, Angela, said there were two pit bulls in the backyard that did not escape the fence to attack her brother. Those two dogs are still at the dog owner's home. She described the security footage of the attack as "sickening." Culbertson received over 500 stitches for his injuries. Had he not died on November 6, he would have had one hand, and a leg amputated, lived on dialysis and had a tracheotomy for the rest of his life, she said.

According to Angela, KC Pet Project responded to the scene after the attack, along with police, and returned the dogs to the dog owner's yard. They returned the next day with a search warrant, but all seven pit bulls involved in the attack -- along with 15 puppies that were inside the home -- had disappeared. This is when Angela learned there had been over 15 complaints filed about the dogs prior to attacking her brother. Two large holes at the bottom of the fence line continue to be visible.

The city's ordinance limits the number of dogs to four per household.

Police are not releasing any information about the investigation. We do know that John Thibeaux SR and John Thibeaux JR live at the residence. We also know that one of the remaining pit bulls at the residence is of the XL bully variant. Given that there were 15 puppies inside the home, this is also a breeding operation. Thibeaux isn't a common name, belonging to just 843 individuals, most of whom live in Louisiana. It is unknown if this owner is the breeder of "Thibeaux's Espresso" and others.

KSHB interviewed Holly Lane, the neighbor who intervened with a golf club and sustained serious injuries. Lane, who owns the camera that captured the attack, said it happened in front of her home. "My leg is bad, but I’m alive and he’s not," Lane said. "I’ve had to Mace them before, I’ve had to use a golf club before and they’ve even come after my husband," she said. "The dogs sit there and tug and tug at the fence, and then they rip holes in the fence," she said about the dogs' poor confinement.

With over 15 previous complaints on these dogs, along with routine fencing failures and two dozen dogs on the property -- an unlicensed breeding operation -- prior to the vicious attack speaks volumes about the lack of enforcement by KC Pet Project. The agency’s contract with the city expired in April, but they continue to operate under an amendment to the contract. Discussions about a future contract with KCPP, if any, are expected in December. We hope that Angela speaks at this public meeting.

Two dogs on the property were not involved in the attack; one appears to be an XL bully.

11/08/24: Man Dies After Vicious Attack
Kansas City, MO - One man is dead, and a woman injured after being attacked by a vicious dog pack on November 2. Kansas City police officers were dispatched to the 3200 block of East 80th Street at approximately 9:50 pm. Multiple dogs were actively attacking the man when police arrived. Officers discovered that a woman had also been attacked. She sustained serious injuries to her extremities. Both victims were transported to a hospital. The male victim, Chris Culbertson, 46, died Wednesday.

Culbertson's sister Angela shared surveillance video with KSHB -- the 23 minute attack was captured by the camera. Culbertson was riding his bicycle when the dog pack pulled him down. Culbertson sustained "over 300 dog bites, over 500 stitches, and over 100 lacerations," Angela said. "They ripped his cheek off, his chin, his heels of his feet." As of Thursday, the seven dogs remained at the owner's home, according to Angela. KSHB showed footage of the home's fence line that contained holes.

KC Pet Project, who contracts animal control services for the city, is assisting Kansas City police investigators. Since taking over animal services in 2020, KC Pet Project has been under fire for failing to seize and manage biting and dangerous dogs. It is unknown if any of the seven dogs had a history of running loose or being violent. The identity of the dogs' owner has not been released. It is unknown why none of the dogs, apparently, were seized by KC Pet Project after the multi-victim attack Saturday.

Killed by Pit Bull Pack

On Friday, Fox4 spoke to Angela, who confirmed the dog pack contained multiple pit bulls. Both Angela and Culbertson also own one or more pit bulls. “I cannot believe that some dogs could do this to a human," Angela said. "I couldn't imagine being bitten or torn by anything for 23 minutes." After sustaining critical injuries, Culbertson became septic and died while hospitalized. The woman who was attacked tried to help Culbertson by hitting the dogs with a golf club. The dogs then turned on her.

Also on Friday, six days after the multi-victim mauling that led to Culbertson's death, law enforcement agencies seized the attacking dogs. The surveillance camera that captured the 23 minute attack belonged to a neighbor of the dogs' owner. Before dying, Culbertson told his family, "They were trying to drag me like I was their dinner." His family members would like to the dogs' owner face penalties. "The people that own the dogs need to be held accountable for this,” Angela said. "This is murder."

Chris Culbertson, 46, died after being attacked by a vicious dog pack while riding his bicycle.

The area where Chris Culbertson, 46, was killed by a pack of pit bulls in South Kansas City.

Posted on November 5, 2024 by Colleen Lynn

Investigation: Homeless Man Dies After being Stabbed and Mauled by Dogs at Perris Hill Park in San Bernardino

A man died after being stabbed and mauled by dogs in Perris Hill Park.

Man Dies After Dog Attack
San Bernardino, CA - A man died after being stabbed and mauled by dogs at a homeless encampment in a city park. Police and paramedics were dispatched to Perris Hill Park located at 1135 East Highland Avenue around 5:20 pm Sunday. Upon arrival, responders found the man, who authorities said is homeless, suffering from suspected stab wounds and dog bites. Animal control officers confiscated 10 to 11 dogs from the scene. As of Tuesday, investigators are still trying to sort out what happened.

The San Bernardino County Coroner's Office has not yet released the cause of death. Capt. Nelson Carrington of the San Bernardino Police Department told KABC, "While the victim was being treated by medical personnel, he had what is suspected to be a potential stab wound, but again we're not 100% sure about that." Carrington added, "We won't get that information until the coroner's investigation is completed." Detectives are still trying to find the dogs' owner, who is also believed to be homeless.

Encampments and Lawsuits

Since January, the city of San Bernardino has been unable to clear homeless encampments at Perris Hill Park, or anywhere else, due to a lawsuit filed by the ACLU. The recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling did not affect the city's situation. The legal issues the city faced stem from ADA violations during the process of encampment clean up. It was announced in early October that the city reached a settlement with the ACLU. Clearing homeless encampments could resume under certain conditions.

The Perris Hill Neighborhood Association posted earlier today, "Well, Mayor and City Council what do you have to say about this? The homeless at the park were supposed to be cleared out on Oct. 31st per the officer at the last Coffee with a Cop meeting. When will the city stop dragging their feet and clean up the park so the neighbors can have some peace and quiet again?" The attack occurred on November 3, three days after the park was supposed to be cleared out, according to the association.

The Inland Wire captured video of animal control officers confiscating at least one pit bull from the scene. This man's death comes a few weeks after a 59-year old homeless man in Albany, New York, was killed by a pack of pit bulls being used to guard a drug house; criminal charges are pending. In September, a 53-year old homeless man was killed by three mastiff-mixes in Oakland, California. In August, a 56-year old homeless woman was killed by a pack of great danes in Falls Feather, California.

A video posted by San Bernardino Media shows police outside of a gated area and pit bulls barking on the other side. Animal control officers confiscated at least seven pit bulls. A commenter wrote, "The gated area is where a few of the homeless people have made their own gated community." She and her church "go out there and feed them" and have gotten to know them, she wrote. "They say that they protect themselves with their dogs so that no one goes in and tries to mess with them."

Stabbed and Mauled by dogs perris hill park

A San Bernardino animal control officer is seen confiscating a pit bull from the scene.

At least seven pit bulls were confiscated from a fenced-in gated area near a building with a large horseshoe painted on it and signage that read, "Inland Empire Horseshoe Club."

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