As an 11-month-old baby was sleeping the family pit bull entered the room and mauled the boy to death. The boy was pronounced dead at a local hospital.
EASTPOINTE, Mich.---An 11-month-old baby boy is dead due to an attack by Prince the family's 2-year-old pit bull.
The couple whom the police declined to identify will not be celebrating their first child's birthday next month.
According to
Clickondetroit the father said the baby was sleeping when the dog entered the room attacking the baby and dragging him to the floor. The father went into the room and attempted to get the baby from the dog. He shot the dog when he was unable to get the baby away from the dog.
According to Eastpointe police Lt. Darrell Corsi the boy taken to St. John Hospital and Medical Center in Detroit where he was pronounced dead.
Ron Baumgartner a neighbor said of the mother, "I saw her with her head in her hands, going berserk." He added that she was standing on the porch screaming, "The dog got the baby by the head, by the head!"
He said the boy's father couldn't say anything and appeared to be in shock.
The dog which had been shot with a handgun was dead when the police arrived.
The case is under investigation. The boy's parents are not in custody according to Corsi. The Macomb County Prosecutor's Office will review the case.
Baumgartner said the couple were only known to their neighbors as Earl and Felicia. They had rented the house a little over a year ago.
The neighbors said the couple was older and had been told they couldn't have children.
When they learned the couple were going to have a baby they were excited for them.
Baumgartner said, "It was a miracle child." He added, "They watched that kid like a hawk. I can't believe that dog got near that child."
Another neighbor, Paula Goulet, said of the couple,"They were so happy. ... They passed out cigars when the baby was born."
