Posted on August 25, 2024 by Colleen Lynn

2024 Dog Bite Fatality: Man, 33-Years Old, Killed by Dogs in Austin Neighborhood on Chicago's West Side

A 33-year old man was killed by dogs in Chicago's Austin neighborhood.

Man Killed by Dogs
Chicago, IL - On Saturday night, a 33-year old man was found dead with multiple dog bites in Chicago's Austin neighborhood. The man was found unresponsive in the vestibule of a two-flat building in the 5500 block of West Quincy Street around 8:30 pm. Multiple dogs were located inside the apartment. The Cook County Medical Examiner's Office identified the victim as Keshon Bullock, 33, of Cicero. The cause of death was ruled a dog mauling; the manner of death was an accident.

The victim's name has multiple spellings, according to our online research, including Keshaun and Keshawn. Felicia Simmons King, who is a friend of 33-year old Keshawn Bullock and his relative Keith Bullock, stated in comments on the WGN-TV Facebook post that he was killed by "XL bullies." Facebook pages of both men show they were breeding pit bulls in 2013. Police did not release breed information. The victim was pronounced dead at the scene. No other information is known.

Victim was Dog Sitting

On Monday, more information was revealed after King responded to comments on the WGN-TV thread, stating about the victim, "Yes I know him, we grew up together." King also stated that Keshon was dog sitting at the time. "They wasn't his dogs," she wrote. "It was a close friend of his dogs he was just cleaning up and feeding them for him when he be out of town or at work (sic)." There have been other cases of pit bulls killing their dog sitters this year, including Kimberly Williams and Joni Hatcher.

A friend of the victim states he was killed by XL bullies on the WGN-TV Facebook post.

A friend of the victim states he was dog sitting; the dogs belonged to a close friend.

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

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 August 23, 2024 by Colleen Lynn

2024 Dog Bite Fatality: Estate of Arkansas Man Killed by Three Violent Pit Bulls Awarded $15 Million

Reuben Pierce, 70, died three months after being mauled by three violent pit bulls.

Complaint and Judgment
Jacksonville, AR - On October 30, 2023, "Reuben Pierce was attacked and mauled by defendants’ pit bull dogs. Reuben Pierce’s injuries were horrible and painful. Mr. Pierce was hospitalized and received medical care from October 30, 2023, until he passed away on January, 24, 2024," state court filings. On August 19, 2024, Judge Sanders Huckabee awarded the plaintiff a judgment against the defendants in the amount $5 million in compensatory damages and $10 million in punitive damages.

There were no media reports about this vicious attack when it occurred or at the time of Pierce's death. The first reports occurred in early April 2024, after the wrongful death lawsuit was filed on March 27, 2024 in the Circuit Court of Lonoke County. Both media reporting sources (The Arkansas Leader and The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette) are behind paywalls. However, the state of Arkansas has an open court record system, so we were able to obtain the relevant court filings for our readers.

The October attack occurred in the 200 block of Morgan Road in Jacksonville, where the defendants, Kenneth Cash and Jennifer Swartz, reside. Pierce lived across the street from the pair, according to property records. Both Cash and Swartz were sued for "wrongful death, negligence, battery, tort of outrage and punitive damages," states the filing. "Defendants were aware that their pit bulls had dangerous tendencies because the dogs had attacked and bitten other people," alleges the filing.

Included in the Complaint was a montage of images showing the "horrible and painful" injuries that Pierce sustained, while he spent the last few months of his life in a hospital, enduring "pain and suffering, mental anguish, severe injuries, and medical bills," states the filing. "The "defendants intentionally kept the pit bulls even though they knew they were dangerous and have attacked people in the past." The dogs belonging to the couple had also attacked other neighbors, alleges the filing.

Not long after the Pierce attack, a neighbor came under attack by the same dogs and was able to shoot and kill two of the pit bulls, reports The Leader.

The defendants represented themselves pro se and supplied a "handwritten" Response. They denied all 16 allegations. The judge disagreed. "Based upon the proof presented," the Court wrote, the "plaintiff is awarded compensatory damages of $5,000,000 and punitive damages of $10,000,000, for a total award of $15,000,000, against defendants, Kenneth Cash and Jennifer Swartz, jointly and severally." The defendants were ordered to supply the Court with a list of all assets within 45 days.

According to property records, Swartz purchased the home on the Ides of March 2023. Within seven months, the couple's pit bulls had attacked multiple neighbors and mauled Pierce. Both Cash and Swartz had been backyard breeding pit bulls, according to their Facebook pages. The stud, "Boss Hogg Cash" died in September 2022. The female, Izzy, had a litter in November 2022 (the last pairing with Boss Hogg). The Leader reported that three pit bulls were in involved in the mauling of Pierce.

Online court records show that Swartz was charged with two counts of unlawful dog attack, each a Class A misdemeanor, after Pierce's attack. Last month, she pleaded no contest to both charges. She was ordered to pay $2,320. Due to the civil judgment, she will likely now owe the Court funds for the rest of her life. Cash has a history of misdemeanor charges, largely driving offenses. However, that escalated in May 2024 after another traffic stop resulted in a felony drug possession charge.

The Massive Award

When defendants lack resources, large awards like this one are symbolic victories. Notably, The Leader reports that Jacksonville attorney John Ogles, who represented the estate of Pierce, also won a $1.2 million judgment against the owner of two pit bulls that attacked a Maumelle man and his dog last year. The defendant, Paul Stehley, was ordered to start making that payment in May 2023, however, Stehley appealed the order. The case has been stayed until the appeal is resolved.

Arkansas BSL Cities

Both symbolic monetary awards come as multiple jurisdictions in Arkansas are under pressure by pit bull advocates to repeal longstanding pit bull bans. In 2021, Cabot replaced their ban with mandatory sterilization and insurance requirements. Beebe kept their ban after hearing from Robby Taylor's parents in 2021, while Maumelle repealed their ban. In 2022, Jacksonville, the city where Pierce was mauled, kept their ban. Currently, Lonoke is considering a repeal of its ban, as is Sherwood.

The owner's Facebook pages: The primary stud, "Boss Hogg Cash," died in September 2022. The female, "Izzy," had puppies in November 2022. Two puppies seen in January 2023.

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

Posted on August 12, 2024 by Colleen Lynn

2024 Dog Bite Fatality: Family Guardian Breed Dogs Kill 9-Year Old Girl in Overgaard, Arizona, Mother Says

A 9-year old girl was killed by family guardian breed dogs in Arizona.

Cane Corsos Confirmed
UPDATE 08/14/24: According to Facebook's "View edit history" feature, the child's mother updated her original post on August 14, adding the term "cane corso." The post now reads, "For multiple years we had Cane Corso guard dogs that had been trustworthy with our children." The child's family also requested that the dogs be destroyed. "When the Sheriff took the Cane Corso guard dogs, we requested that they put them down," states the updated post that announced her daughter's death.

08/12/24: Police Press Release
Overgaard, AZ - A 9-year old girl is dead after being mauled by her family's guardian breed dogs, her mother Shirley Barney said. "Shiree, graduated from Earthly Angel to Heavenly Angel" on August 9, she announced on Facebook. "For multiple years we had guard dogs that had been trustworthy with our children. Shiree went outside by herself for just 10 minutes to turn off the water lines and they attacked and killed her in that short time. We were completely shocked and devastated," she wrote.

On August 9, 2024, at about 6:31 pm, Navajo County sheriff’s deputies responded to the 2500 block of South Road in Overgaard. "The reporting party advised the family dogs attacked a nine-year-old female," states a release from the agency. "The victim was at home with many members of her family and had run outside to turn off a water spigot. The family dogs routinely interact and are familiar with the family and children." For "unknown reasons," the dogs attacked the girl causing fatal injuries.

Child death in Aripine

Holbrook, AZ: On August 9, 2024, at approximately 6:31 PM, the Navajo County Sheriff’s Office responded to a 9-1-1 call on the 2500 block of South Drive in Overgaard (Aripine). The reporting party advised the family dogs attacked a nine-year-old female.

The victim was at home with many members of her family and had run outside to turn off a water spigot. The family dogs routinely interact and are familiar with the family and children. For unknown reasons, the dogs attacked the young girl causing severe physical trauma. Members of her family, with the assistance of Emergency Medical Dispatching (EMD) from the Show Low Regional Dispatch Center, attempted to provide medical aid but the young girl succumbed to her injuries. The investigation of this tragic incident is being handled by the Navajo County Sheriff’s Office- Criminal Investigation Unit and the Navajo County Animal Control.

Due to the ongoing investigation, no further information will be released.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family of the young girl. - Navajo County Sheriff’s Office

Locals report the two dogs involved were cane corsos, who some call a "king corso" or "king cane corso." The "king" portion is a marketing gimmick by breeders. The cane corso is a large bull breed mastiff that is part of the "guardian dog group." Like the XL pit bulls/XL bullies are larger versions of the pit bull terrier, the unofficial "king" cane corso seems to just be a larger version of the cane corso. According to police, "The family dogs routinely interact and are familiar with the family and children."

But on August 9, the family guardian breed dogs killed Shiree Barney for "unknown reasons." It is also unknown if they were a breeding pair of cane corsos. A GoFundMe for the child states, she was "unexpectedly called home." The fund's organizer is trying "to alleviate the financial burdens placed on her family so they can focus on taking time to grieve and heal from their loss. Funds will help the Edward and Shirley Barney family with cost of memorial and other services related to her passing."

"Doodle" Breeders

The father of the child declares on Facebook that he operates "Raise a Paw," which specializes in sheepadoodle, whoodle, and goldendoodle puppies. "If you want to buy from a reputable, responsible breeder, you've come to the right place! We care very much about our dogs and puppies, and put a lot of time and effort into making sure they are healthy and happy," states their website. "Doodle" breeds are quite the contrast to hulking cane corsos, a "gladiator" and "guardian" molosser breed war dog.

guardian breed dogs kill child in Overgaard, Arizona

A 9-year old girl was killed by a pair of family guardian breed dogs in Overgaard, Arizona.

The mother's announcement has been shared hundreds of times on Facebook. Many reactions to it are like the above. The "felt no pain" aspect seemed to concern people the most.

Posted on August 10, 2024 by Colleen Lynn

2024 Dog Bite Fatality: Baby Dies Following Attack by 'Two Large Pit Bulls' Inside Apartment in Memphis, Tennessee

A baby died after being attacked by two large pit bulls at the Cedar Run Apartments.

Baby Killed by Dogs
Memphis, TN - On Friday afternoon, a 1-year old boy sustained critical injuries after being attacked by two dogs, police said. The boy was transported to a hospital, where he later died. Police were dispatched to the Cedar Run Apartments in the 5900 block of Ridgeland Drive at about 5:20 pm. The dogs were still attacking the child inside an apartment unit when officers arrived. When police made it inside the unit, the dogs were still in attack mode, forcing an officer to shoot and kill both dogs.

Audio dispatch log files from Memphis Police and Shelby County Sheriff identify the breed of dog and describe a similar scene. The dispatcher states, "5966 Ridgeland Drive they are advising that two large pit bulls are attacking one male juvenile. The juvenile is beyond help." Some seconds later, the dispatcher states, "be advised that one of the dogs still has ahold of the child. They are unable to get to the juvenile." One of the parents was also injured by the dogs while trying to save the baby.

Assistant Police Chief Don Crowe spoke to the media on Friday. “They got here as fast as they could. When they arrived on the scene inside one of the apartments two dogs were mauling a child, small infant child. The officer discharged his weapon and dispatched both dogs. The officer grabbed the child up, ran downstairs, started first aid on the child,” Crowe said. He added, "Right now, we just want to pray for that family and pray for that child and pray for the officer that had to face this tonight."

Family XL Pit Bulls

In October of 2022, two large pit bulls -- also known as XL pit bulls or XL bullies -- killed both children in the household in Millington, Tennessee, which resides in Shelby County and is about 10 miles north of Memphis. 5-month old Hollace Bennard and 2-year old Lilly Bennard were killed by the family's two large pit bulls, a male and female pair, Cheech and Mia respectively, the family had owned for eight years. It's reasonable to assume that the description of "two large pit bulls" indicates the XL type.

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

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