2019 Dog Bite Fatality: Child Killed by Babysitter's Pit Bull-Mix in Salisbury, North Carolina

Jacari Long, 6-months old, was mauled to death by his babysitter's pit bull-boxer mix.

Police Investigate
UPDATE 03/06/19: Multiple news stations captured footage of the pit bull-boxer mix that killed baby Jacari while under the care of his babysitter on Tuesday. The dog is currently being held by Rowan County Animal Control. Shelter officials confirmed the dog has shown aggression toward people while being at the facility. The male dog is 4-years old, police said. Police continue to investigate to determine if the babysitter's dog had displayed aggressive behaviors in the past.

"It was very horrific. Especially for the first responders, the hospital staff involved yesterday, I know they took it hard." - Lt. Greg Beam with Salisbury Police

The WCNC report also states the babysitter left Jacari in a car seat inside the home while she went outside to clean the back of her car to make room for the baby. When she heard her mother screaming, she ran back inside and found her dog attacking the baby. The two women rushed Jacari to a hospital. He was then airlifted to Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, where he died. Police were not called until after the baby was airlifted to the trauma center in Winston-Salem.

Fox 46 Charlotte reports that "King" has been euthanized. The news station also spoke to Denise Small on the phone, a friend the baby boy's family. Small said she is heartbroken over Jacari's mauling death. "He didn't even have the chance to live life or even have a chance to enjoy life," she said. Small also wants the owner held responsible. "Right is right and wrong is wrong. They have to take the responsibility of what they did by having that dog around that baby," she said.

Deaths by Babysitter's Dog

Last year, 28% (10) of dog bite fatalities involved a babysitting or dog sitting scenario. Nine of these victims were ages 0 to 6. Five of these deaths involved the child visiting the babysitter or dog owner's home at the time, including the traumatic deaths of Jaevon Torres, killed by three pit bulls while under the care of his godmother in Philadelphia and Liana Valino, killed by one of her father's three pit bulls while under the care of her paternal grandmother in Miramar, Florida.

Of these 10 deaths, 70% involved pit bulls. Recent criminal convictions involving babysitters after a baby's mauling death include Erica Jordan, 33, in connection to the mauling death of Loxli Chavez in Missouri in 2018 and Sandra Adams, 70, in connection to the mauling death of Paris Adams, her own grandson, in Georgia in 2017. Jordan began her 4-year prison term in January 2019. It is unknown if Jacari was related to the babysitter, who is reportedly the baby's godmother.

03/05/19: Babysitter's Dog Kills Child
Salisbury, NC - A baby boy is dead after being attacked by a dog belonging to his babysitter, Salisbury police said. Jacari Long, 6-months old, died of the injuries he sustained in the attack. The attack occurred at a home in the 700 block of Wilson Road, near Livingstone College. The baby was taken to Novant Health Rowan Medical Center and airlifted to Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center in Winston-Salem, where he died. The dog is described as a boxer-pit bull mix.

Police were called to the scene about 2:30 pm and determined that Jacari was inside the babysitter's home when the deadly attack happened. Police said the babysitter sat the child in the living room of her home and walked outside to clean the back seat of her car so that she and the baby could leave. While outside, the babysitter heard her mother scream. She ran back inside and found her dog attacking the baby. Rowan County Animal Control confiscated the animal.

Police said that no additional details would be released tonight. In the livecast of Fox 46 Charlotte 10:00 pm news, they called the dog a "pit bull." The baby's father shared the last video he made with Jacari on his Facebook page. Family relatives also posted in memory of Jacari to Facebook.

The family has started a GoFundMe to help with funeral costs - Jacari Long Memorial Fund.

Salisbury Police News Release

On March 5, 2019 at 2:29 pm, Salisbury Police were notified of a child that was being airlifted to NC Baptist Hospital for treatment of a dog bite. Upon investigation, officers determined that the incident happened at the home of the child’s baby sitter at 716 Wilson Road in Salisbury.

The baby sitter had sat the child down in the living room of her residence and walked outside to clean the backseat of her car so that she and the child could leave. The babysitter heard her mother scream and ran back inside of the residence. There she found the child being attacked by her boxer/pit bull mix dog. The child was taken to Novant Rowan and then Airlifted to NC Baptist Hospital in Winston-Salem.

Due to the extent of the dog bite, 6 month old Jacari Long of Lexington NC passed away from his injuries. Rowan County Animal Control responded to the residence and took custody of the dog. Salisbury Police are still investigating and no further information will be released at this time. - Salisbury Police, March 5, 2019

The babysitter's 4-year old male pit bull-mix, named King, that killed baby Jacari on Tuesday.

salisbury pit bull attack - Denise Small

Denise Small, a friend the baby boy's family, hopes the dog's owner is held responsible.

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

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.

11 thoughts on “2019 Dog Bite Fatality: Child Killed by Babysitter's Pit Bull-Mix in Salisbury, North Carolina”

An organization such as this one needs to publish a poster about the dangers of leaving an infant with a babysitter who owns a pit bull or other dangerous breed.

These posters need to hang next to safety posters (choking hazards, etc.) you see at after school programs, day cares, health clinics, and pediatricians’ offices.

If such a message would get the attention of just one parent who may not have otherwise given much thought to the potential danger of a baby sitter with a pit bull, one little life might be saved.

A friend of mine (paternal grandmother) has two preschool age grandsons, and their maternal grandmother has a nasty pitbull. The grandmother says the dog is safe with the kids. I personally don’t think the children should ever be at her house. The pitbull is more important than the children.

Your Quiet Neighbor on March 7, 2019 at 7:45 am said:

And that attitude is very common among “dog people.” Including those who don’t own pit bulls. I’ve experienced in my own family.

Believe me, there’s nothing so frustrating as having to play second fiddle to a dog.
- Mama Bear on March 7, 2019 at 10:59 am said:
  
  I 100% agree and have noticed the same phenomenon. At the end of the day, you can replace your dog, as blunt as that sounds. I cannot, however, replace my children. I can’t even have anymore children, for that matter. Not like having more could replace a lost child, anyway. Some people just don’t value human life.

Another innocent life taken by a dog that was bred for nothing other than to inflict pain, suffering, and death.

I wouldn’t leave my children with someone stupid enough to own that thing. Imagine what other bad choices she might make. Hey, here’s one: LEAVING YOUR BABY UNATTENDED WITH HER DOG.

Common sense ain’t common, folks.

Christy on March 7, 2019 at 6:22 am said:

I do wonder about the mother…did she have or has she previously had a pit bull? Is that why she thought this was a good idea? Then I wonder about the babysitter…did she just not have her shit together and this is the only low-paying work she can find or will we soon find out that that babysitter is also a sister, close friend, brother’s girlfriend, grandmother, or some other close relation.
- Mama Bear on March 7, 2019 at 1:40 pm said:
  
  I think most dog owners in North Carolina just own pitbulls in general.
  
  Check out the local shelters:
  
  https://www.fayobserver.com/photogallery/NC/20190307/NEWS/201009994/PH/1
  
  95% mislabled or unlabeled pits.
  
  Everywhere we go, there are multiple pitbulls walking around, out and about with their owners like everything about that is normal and dandy. I see them in fences, tied to trees, guarding businesses and in the backs of trucks. It’s clearly a local status symbol. Even most of the homeless people here have a shitbull. How they feed them, is still a mystery.
  
  So to answer your questions about this babysitter, she’s probably just an average North Carolinian. (Insert eye roll).
  
  I hate to perpetuate stereotypes about my own state, but typically stereotypes come about because there’s some truth to them. A lot of people in these parts are a few fries short of a Happy Meal. I’ll leave it at that.

Hate all the photos and videos of babies and bully dogs together.

Hate the “kissing booth” garbage. These are partially responsible for the depraved neglect that results in these injuries and deaths.

I asked the folks/pit breeders on a game dog forums about a pit attack on a child.
One breeder’s response:
“Kids are dog sized.
Pits attack and kill dogs.
That’s what pits do.”

This pit was put down, but in all likelihood they will get more.

Owners should be charged with animal neglect and cruelty and banned from dog ownership for Life.

Your Quiet Neighbor on March 7, 2019 at 7:47 am said:

If you encounter one of those kissing booths, ask the operators about their liability insurance. Chances are good that they won’t have any.
Packhorse on March 7, 2019 at 8:22 am said:

This story and others like it should be national news and common discussion, rather than that ridiculous viral video of a pit bull “crying” over a sad movie that is absolutely everywhere right now. Yesterday a bunch of my coworkers were giggling and cooing over it on their phones. I doubt they even know about any of the deaths / maulings that have happened so far this year.

They baby was in his car seat?! Not even touching, pulling or crawling or any other excuse shitbull/petbull owners use to justify their favourite dogs filthy mauling ways? The baby was probably asleep or if awake, gurgling sweetly at the dog, like only babies can…what a demonic breed this mutt is, cross breed or not, the ‘pit’ in them causes this

Comments are closed.

Please review our comment policy.

Cindy on March 6, 2019 at 2:34 pm said:

An organization such as this one needs to publish a poster about the dangers of leaving an infant with a babysitter who owns a pit bull or other dangerous breed.

These posters need to hang next to safety posters (choking hazards, etc.) you see at after school programs, day cares, health clinics, and pediatricians’ offices.

If such a message would get the attention of just one parent who may not have otherwise given much thought to the potential danger of a baby sitter with a pit bull, one little life might be saved.
Rachel on March 6, 2019 at 6:49 pm said:

A friend of mine (paternal grandmother) has two preschool age grandsons, and their maternal grandmother has a nasty pitbull. The grandmother says the dog is safe with the kids. I personally don’t think the children should ever be at her house. The pitbull is more important than the children.
- Your Quiet Neighbor on March 7, 2019 at 7:45 am said:
  
  And that attitude is very common among “dog people.” Including those who don’t own pit bulls. I’ve experienced in my own family.
  
  Believe me, there’s nothing so frustrating as having to play second fiddle to a dog.
  - Mama Bear on March 7, 2019 at 10:59 am said:
    
    I 100% agree and have noticed the same phenomenon. At the end of the day, you can replace your dog, as blunt as that sounds. I cannot, however, replace my children. I can’t even have anymore children, for that matter. Not like having more could replace a lost child, anyway. Some people just don’t value human life.
Mama Bear on March 6, 2019 at 9:31 pm said:

Another innocent life taken by a dog that was bred for nothing other than to inflict pain, suffering, and death.

I wouldn’t leave my children with someone stupid enough to own that thing. Imagine what other bad choices she might make. Hey, here’s one: LEAVING YOUR BABY UNATTENDED WITH HER DOG.

Common sense ain’t common, folks.
- Christy on March 7, 2019 at 6:22 am said:
  
  I do wonder about the mother…did she have or has she previously had a pit bull? Is that why she thought this was a good idea? Then I wonder about the babysitter…did she just not have her shit together and this is the only low-paying work she can find or will we soon find out that that babysitter is also a sister, close friend, brother’s girlfriend, grandmother, or some other close relation.
  - Mama Bear on March 7, 2019 at 1:40 pm said:
    
    I think most dog owners in North Carolina just own pitbulls in general.
    
    Check out the local shelters:
    
    https://www.fayobserver.com/photogallery/NC/20190307/NEWS/201009994/PH/1
    
    95% mislabled or unlabeled pits.
    
    Everywhere we go, there are multiple pitbulls walking around, out and about with their owners like everything about that is normal and dandy. I see them in fences, tied to trees, guarding businesses and in the backs of trucks. It’s clearly a local status symbol. Even most of the homeless people here have a shitbull. How they feed them, is still a mystery.
    
    So to answer your questions about this babysitter, she’s probably just an average North Carolinian. (Insert eye roll).
    
    I hate to perpetuate stereotypes about my own state, but typically stereotypes come about because there’s some truth to them. A lot of people in these parts are a few fries short of a Happy Meal. I’ll leave it at that.
Debbie Bell on March 7, 2019 at 6:18 am said:

Hate all the photos and videos of babies and bully dogs together.

Hate the “kissing booth” garbage. These are partially responsible for the depraved neglect that results in these injuries and deaths.

I asked the folks/pit breeders on a game dog forums about a pit attack on a child.
One breeder’s response:
“Kids are dog sized.
Pits attack and kill dogs.
That’s what pits do.”

This pit was put down, but in all likelihood they will get more.

Owners should be charged with animal neglect and cruelty and banned from dog ownership for Life.
- Your Quiet Neighbor on March 7, 2019 at 7:47 am said:
  
  If you encounter one of those kissing booths, ask the operators about their liability insurance. Chances are good that they won’t have any.
- Packhorse on March 7, 2019 at 8:22 am said:
  
  This story and others like it should be national news and common discussion, rather than that ridiculous viral video of a pit bull “crying” over a sad movie that is absolutely everywhere right now. Yesterday a bunch of my coworkers were giggling and cooing over it on their phones. I doubt they even know about any of the deaths / maulings that have happened so far this year.
Judy Faulkner on January 12, 2020 at 7:06 am said:

They baby was in his car seat?! Not even touching, pulling or crawling or any other excuse shitbull/petbull owners use to justify their favourite dogs filthy mauling ways? The baby was probably asleep or if awake, gurgling sweetly at the dog, like only babies can…what a demonic breed this mutt is, cross breed or not, the ‘pit’ in them causes this