BAYTOWN, Texas — A 4-year-old boy died Wednesday morning after he was attacked by dogs in Baytown, police said.
It happened around 7:40 a.m. in the 2700 block of Massey Tompkins Road.
Officers were called about a dog fight, according to a statement from Baytown police, when they realized the child had been attacked.
“It just shocked me. It shocked me really really bad," said Yahir Martinez who called 911. “I told 'em just, like, hurry up because the baby was unconscious.”
Medics tried to perform CPR on the child before rushing him to Baytown Hospital but he didn't survive.
“I beat myself up about it. I was like, ‘Damn, bro. You could have gotten here more earlier,'' Martinez said.
A person from the home was injured while trying to intervene and was also treated.
The child had been staying at the home, Baytown police said in the statement. Neighbors said he was the nephew of the woman who lives there.
“She was heartbroken. She was crying. She couldn’t believe it. I was with her on the phone, and all I heard was her voice breaking because she couldn’t believe it. She was like, ‘I can’t believe my own dog did that,' and they’ve had him for a while," neighbor Yadi Rodriguez said.
Four dogs, two adults and two puppies, were taken by animal control, and detectives were still investigating what led to the deadly attack.
Neighbors said the dogs are pit bulls.
“I know their dogs. They’re not mean. They’re really nice dogs," Rodriguez said. "They let you come up to them and pet them, which is why I was so confused whenever I saw that dog specifically was being aggressive because he would always come out here and play.”
The attack was captured on one neighbor's surveillance camera and police now have the video.
It's not clear if any charges will be filed.