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Florida boy killed by dogs while petting them, owner to be charged, sheriff says: 'He never had a chance'

By and
Updated  January 14, 2025 12:56pm EST
Volusia County
FOX 35 Orlando

Full press conference: Florida boy, 8, killed in dog attack

Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood provided new details about the dog attack that left an 8-year-old boy dead during a briefing on Tuesday. According to Sheriff Chitwood, the boy, identified as Michael, was riding bikes with his friends in the neighborhood when they stopped at the front entrance of the subdivision to pet the dogs. It was at that moment that Michael was brutally mauled, officials said.

The Brief

    • An 8-year-old boy died on Monday after he was brutally mauled by two dogs in a Volusia County neighborhood, Sheriff Mike Chitwood told reporters during a news conference on Tuesday.
    • The boy, identified as Michael, was riding bikes with his friends in the neighborhood when they stopped to pet the loose dogs. It was then that he was attacked and killed.
    • The owner of the dogs is expected to be charged in the case, authorities said.

VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. - Warning: This story may contain information some readers find disturbing. Reader discretion is advised. 

Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood provided new details about the dog attack that left an 8-year-old boy dead during a briefing on Tuesday.

According to Chitwood, the boy, identified as Michael, was riding bikes with his friends in the neighborhood when they stopped at the mailboxes near the front entrance of the subdivision to pet the loose dogs.

It was at that moment that Michael was "brutally mauled and killed," Chitwood said. The sheriff noted there was no indication the dogs were going to attack.

"And then, like a light switch went off, then they went right into attack mode," Chitwood said. 

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Authorities said the child's mother jumped on top of her son to shield him from the attack.

"I can tell you, in all my years of policing, to listen to that 911 call and hear Michael's mother in the background when she dove on top of him to stop the attack, screaming, ‘somebody help me! He's not breathing,' it strikes to the core of who we are as human beings," Chitwood explained.

Michael sustained 12 bite wounds and suffered a broken neck and leg, with Chitwood describing his injuries as "horrific."

"He never had a chance," Chitwood said. 

Bodycam: Dogs chased in attack that killed little boy

Warning: Viewer discretion is advised. The bodycam video released by the Volusia Sheriff's Office shows deputies and first responders arriving on scene for reports of a boy being attacked by dogs. That boy, 8, later died. The video shows deputies chasing the dogs back to their reported home. It does not show the alleged attack or the victim.

What we know: The attack occurred just before 5 p.m. Monday evening in a neighborhood north of DeLand, near Arabesque Drive and Airport Road, according to deputies. Witnesses called 911 and performed CPR on the child, but he succumbed to his injuries at the scene.

Deputies and Volusia County Animal Services responded, capturing two dogs involved in the attack. Officials described one as a pit bull and the other as a mixed breed. Both animals have been confiscated and placed in quarantine.

Dogs attack, kill 8-year-old boy near DeLand: Sheriff

A dog attack has claimed the life of an 8-year-old boy, authorities with the Volusia County Sheriff's Office said. The attack occurred just before 5 p.m. Monday evening in a neighborhood north of DeLand, near Arabesque Drive and Airport Road, according to deputies.

Who owns the dogs?

Authorities said the owner of the dogs is a 31-year-old woman. She has an extensive criminal history, primarily related to drugs, according to the sheriff. The FOX 35 news team is choosing not to identify the woman, as she has not been charged.

What's next: The two dogs have been captured. A joint investigation is currently underway to determine the circumstances surrounding the attack.

"We're now awaiting the owner's response about whether to sign the dogs over or whether we have to go to court and fight over how we're going to proceed with this. So it's the beginning stages of an investigation," the sheriff said. 

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Chitwood emphasized the woman would be held accountable.

"We are going to do everything humanly possible to hold the owner of these dogs responsible," Chitwood said. "And we're going to do everything possible to make sure that these animals are destroyed."

Did the dogs have a history of violence?

Law enforcement officers who went door-to-door after the incident heard "horrific stories" from neighbors about how the dogs are frequently running loose and have destroyed chickens.

Officials also discovered that the dogs may have been involved in a previous incident in another county.

Chitwood stated that the sheriff’s office is following up on that report.

Officials said the dogs were never reported to animal services. 

"It is our responsibility as animal services to investigate all concerns of stray animals or aggressive animals in the community," Angela Miedema, the director of Volusia County Animal Services, said. "We strongly encourage anybody who is observing an animal that is stray, or observing a nuisance animal or aggressive animal to report it to us or your respective jurisdiction."

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The Source: This story was written based on information shared by the Volusia County Sheriff's Office.

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