An 8-year-old boy was "brutally beaten and killed" Monday after he stopped riding his bicycle at the entrance to a Florida community to pet two dogs, Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood said.
Chitwood said Michael Millett was riding his bike with a friend in DeLand's Berry Ridge neighborhood around 4:55 p.m. Monday when he was struck by what initially appeared to be two Friendly dog fatally 'vicious bite'.
"It went from petting and a very friendly encounter to the dog becoming very, very, very vicious and very violent," Chitwood said at a news conference Tuesday.
Millett was bitten 12 times by the two dogs, which have been identified as pit bulls, possibly Catahoulas or other herding breeds.
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Michael Millett, 8, died after being bitten 12 times by two dogs after he stopped to pet them while riding his bike nearby. (go support me)
Chitwood said he was not sure how long the attack lasted, but he believed the young boy did not suffer for long because his injuries were "terrible."
"We're going to do everything possible to hold the owners of these dogs accountable, and we're going to do everything possible to make sure these dogs are eliminated," the sheriff said.
The dogs were eventually taken into custody by Volusia County Animal Services after deputies recovered them from their homes, and VCAS Director Angela Miedema said the agency is waiting for owners to sign off on the dogs for "humane placement." "Happy death".
"DNA testing was performed on each of his 12 bite wounds, so we can conclude that the two dogs they have in custody are the dogs that caused Michael's death," the sheriff said.
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Chitwood said the owner has the ability to appeal through due process and is well known to law enforcement, having been arrested nine times in the past on various charges related to drugs, domestic violence and assault.
She was not on her property when the attack occurred or when the dog ran back to their home, which is about a half-mile from where Millett was killed.
Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood showed body camera video of deputies approaching two dogs that killed 8-year-old Michael Millett. (Volusia County Sheriff's Office/Body Cameras)
The state's attorney is involved in the investigation, and Chitwood said his first priority is making sure the owner is charged and the dog is "eradicated."
"She needs to be held accountable," Chitwood said. "We have to prove negligence as a bottom line."
When deputies and animal control officers arrived at the property to seize the dogs, they noticed the property was not fully fenced and the dogs could easily escape, something confirmed by neighbors who told authorities the dogs were frequently running around. go astray.
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"As we were going door to door last night, we heard horrific stories about these dogs that were always on the loose and how they were killing chickens," Chitwood said Tuesday, adding that the dogs may have been involved in another county's Another incident.
Despite reports of the dogs hanging out, Chitwood said the Sheriff's Office or Animal Services did not receive any 911 calls about the animals or the addresses where they live.
Volusia County Animal Services Director Angela Miedema said the two dogs were humanely confiscated from their home. (Volusia County Sheriff's Office/Body Cameras)
"Obviously, this didn't happen in a vacuum," Chitwood said. "These dogs have been terrorizing the neighborhood for some time and no one has decided to call us."
The only 911 call Chitwood was aware of related to the dogs was a call made Monday reporting Millett's attack, in which his mother could be heard screaming for help in the background.
She reportedly jumped on him to stop the attack and attempted CPR, which was unsuccessful and he died at the scene. The dogs had never attacked the mother or other children in the area, and Chitwood said he wasn't sure why Millett was the only one bitten.
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A dog bite death expert is working with the county medical examiner to determine more details about the fatal incident, including which dog attacked first and which dog caused the most bites.
“Having a pet is a huge responsibility,” Miedema said. "As a dog owner, you have a lot of responsibilities to keep your animal within the confines of your property, ensure the safety of the public and ensure things like socialization and training to ensure the animal does not pose a threat to other people. "
Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood (right) and Volusia County Animal Services Director Angela Miedema (left) said they are working to ensure the dog's owner is held accountable for the fatal attack. (Volusia County Sheriff’s Office/Facebook)
A GoFundMe set up for Millett's parents by other family members called his death a "tragic accident" that was devastating.
"Our family is devastated by the loss of Michael," reads the fundraiser, which has raised more than $40,000. "He was incredibly smart, funny, caring, caring and adventurous. Michael's infectious laugh and light will be greatly missed."