Galesburg police responded to 675 Whiting Ave. at 1:03 p.m. Saturday to a report of a child attacked by a dog.
[Later, news reports revealed that it was a pit bull responsible for killing the little boy.]
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| Ryan Maxwell was later identified as the little boy |
Officers arrived and found the dog biting a 7-year-old boy. Once officers got the dog away from the boy, it turned on them. Police shot the dog to prevent further attacks on officers or others nearby.
According to a news release from the Galesburg Police Department, the boy was visiting the residence and playing in the backyard when he was attacked.
He was taken to Galesburg Cottage Hospital by Galesburg Hospitals’ Ambulance Service, but later died from injuries sustained in the attack.
He was pronounced dead by the Knox County deputy coroner at 1:41 p.m. His name was being withheld pending notification of family.
The incident remains under investigation by Galesburg and Illinois State Police.
(Peoria Journal Star - March 2, 2013)
