An 8-year-old F-boy was “brutally beaten” at the entrance to a Florida neighborhood Monday after he stopped riding his bike to pet two dogs, Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood said. “died''.
Chitwood said Michael Millett was riding his bike with a friend in DeLand's Berry Ridge neighborhood at about 4:55 p.m. Monday when two dogs that initially seemed friendly appeared to be “malicious”. He was attacked with a handgun and died.
“From petting and a very friendly encounter, the dogs became very, very, very ferocious and violent,” Chitwood said at a news conference Tuesday.
Millett was bitten 12 times by two dogs, identified as pit bull terriers, possibly Catahoulas or other herding breeds.
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Michael Millett, 8, was bitten 12 times by two dogs and died after he stopped to pet the dogs while riding his bike in his neighborhood. (GoFundMe)
Ms Chitwood said she did not know how long the attack lasted, but said she did not believe the boy suffered for long as the wound was “just bad”.
“We intend to do everything humanly possible to hold the owners of these dogs accountable, and we intend to do everything possible to ensure these dogs are destroyed. ” the sheriff said.
The dogs were eventually taken into custody by Volusia County Animal Services after being driven back to their property by deputies, and VCAS Director Angela Miedema said the agency was not allowing owners to “humanely euthanize” the dogs. He said he was waiting for him to sign the petition.
“All 12 of his bite marks have been DNA tested, so we can conclusively say that these two dogs in custody are the dogs involved in Michael's death,” the sheriff said.
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Chitwood said the owner has due process appeals, is known to law enforcement and has been arrested nine times in the past on various charges related to drugs, domestic violence and assault. That's what it means.
She was not on her property at the time of the attack or when the dogs ran back to her home, about half a mile from where Millett was killed.
Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood showed body camera footage of officers approaching the two dogs responsible for killing 8-year-old Michael Millett. (Volusia County Sheriff's Office/Body Camera)
The state attorney's office is involved in the investigation, and Chitwood said his priority is to ensure the owner is prosecuted and the dog is “put down.”
“She needs to be held accountable,” Chitwood said. “We have to prove negligence as a minimum standard.”
When law enforcement personnel and animal control officers arrived at the property to seize the dogs, they found that the property was not completely fenced and the dogs were able to easily escape. Neighbors who told authorities the dog was running around regularly confirmed that. I'm confused.
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“When we went door to door last night, we heard horrific stories about dogs constantly running away and how chickens were being killed,” Chitwood said Tuesday. He added that they may have been involved in another incident in another county.
Despite reports that the dogs were frequently roaming outside, Chitwood said there were no 911 calls made to the sheriff's office or animal services about the animals or the address where they lived.
Volusia County Animal Services Director Angela Miedema said the two dogs were seized at the home in a humane manner. (Volusia County Sheriff's Office/Body Camera)
“Obviously this didn't happen out of the blue,” Chitwood said. “These dogs had been terrorizing the neighborhood for a while, but no one would call us.”
The only 911 call related to the dog that Chitwood was aware of was one on Monday reporting an attack on Millett, in which his mother could be heard screaming for help in the background.
She reportedly jumped on top of the man and attempted CPR to stop the attack, but the attempt was unsuccessful as he died at the scene. The dogs never attacked the mother or other children in the area, but Chitwood said she didn't know why Millet was the only one bitten.
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Dog bite fatality experts are working with the county coroner to uncover the details of this fatal incident, including which dog attacked first and which dog caused the most bites.
“Having a pet is a big responsibility,” Miedema said. “Dog owners are advised not only to keep their animals on their property to ensure public safety, but also to ensure that the animals are socialized and trained so that they do not pose a threat to others. There are many responsibilities.”
Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood (right) and Volusia County Animal Services Director Angela Miedema (left) said they are working to hold the dog's owner accountable for the deadly attack. (Volusia County Sheriff's Office / Facebook)
A GoFundMe set up for Millett's parents by other family members described his death as a “tragic accident” and shocking.
“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, loving and very adventurous. Michael's infectious laughter and cheerfulness will be sorely missed.”
