Boy, 5, mauled to death by pit bull despite onlookers stabbing AND beating the dog with a brick and chair to try and stop the deadly attack

ILLINOIS -- A five-year-old boy has died after being mauled by a pit bull, even as onlookers beat the dog to death while trying to stop the attack.

James W. Nevils was inside a property in Gresham, Chicago, on Monday night when the animal grabbed him by the neck and shoulder.

Witnesses heard someone screaming: 'He's my baby, somebody please help me,' as a woman dragged the child and the animal outside in a bid to get help.

According to ABC 7 Chicago, a man and his brother then ran over and started hitting the dog.

The pair picked up anything they could find on the way - including a bricks, a pole and a chair.

 

They even stabbed it, eventually killing the animal, but they could not prevent the boy from dying.

Neighbors said the dog briefly let go of the child, but quickly latched onto him again. 

Marquis Lewis, who tried to save the child, told ABC 7 Chicago: 'I don't know, I wasn't really thinking about nothing but getting the dog off the baby.

First responders found the boy unresponsive at the scene and rushed him to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn.

He was pronounced dead a short time later. It is not known which family the dog belonged to.

Neighbors told the station the mother and child may have been visiting the house at the time.
Police are yet to make any arrests. 

(Daily Mail - May 26, 2015)