Elderly California man killed by pit bulls has been identified

CALIFORNIA -- The victim of Tuesday's fatal dog attack in North Shore was identified as a 65-year-old resident.

Emilio Rios was pronounced dead at 6:32 a.m. in front of a home at 70-670 Sea Gull Drive, according to the Riverside County Coroner's office.

 

(Photo: Julio Aguilar)

 

His family spoke to KESQ and CBS Local 2 Tuesday afternoon. Emilio's son Jorge Rios told us his dad was a retired gardener and he regularly helped his neighbors with their laws and gardens. His dad apparently went over to water his neighbor's plants early on Tuesday when he was attacked by the dogs.

Neighbors noticed the water from the hose running and discovered his body, according to his family.

They called police, and while officers were investigating, they heard a woman crying for help as she was being attacked by two dogs nearby, according to the sheriff's release.

 

(Photos: Riverside County Department of Animal Services)

The officers sounded lights and sirens, which scared the dogs away, and paramedics transported the victim to a local hospital, where she is being treated for major injuries.

Sheriff's deputies and officers from the Riverside County Department of Animal Services captured the dogs, which they believe were pit bulls. One was extremely aggressive, according to the sheriff's department, and had to be tranquilized.

The victim's son Jorge said the dogs had scratches on their faces as if they were used for fighting.

(Photo: Jay Calderon/The Desert Sun)

The dogs are quarantined at the Coachella Valley Animal Campus in Thousand Palms
Animal control officers will try to find the dogs' owners, said John Welsh, a spokesman for the animal services department. He said they will likely recommend that the owners euthanize the dogs.

"This is as serious as it gets, when you've got somebody who's suffered a fatal attack," Welsh said.

In nine years working with animal services, Welsh said he could only recall three fatal dog attacks, including the 2009 killing of Rancho Mirage resident Hill Williams by his pets.

(Photo: Jay Calderon/The Desert Sun)

"A human being has lost their life to a dog," Welsh said. "If this is not a wake up call for some folks, what is? ... (Owners) have to be extra vigilant, because something like this can occur. It's a tragedy, and it's something that's totally preventable."

Anyone with any information regarding this incident is encouraged to contact Investigator Tijerina at the Riverside County Sheriff's Department's Thermal Station at 760-863-8990.

(The Desert Sun - Sept 9, 2015)