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WRIC Richmond News and Weather - New Developments in Fatal Dog Attack
We're following new developments on a fatal dog attack in Henrico where a six-year-old-boy was mauled to death. Police say it happened Wednesday around 5 p.m. at his family's home on Penguin Road, just off Patterson Avenue.
Henrico Commonwealth's Attorney Wade Kizer says there were seven rotweilers at the home at the time of the attack. But, police have narrowed down the attacking dogs to two, and Kizer says late Thursday afternoon the boy's father agreed to have those two dogs put down.
According to police, six-year-old Matthew Logan Johnson was in his backyard when he was attacked by the two rotweilers.
Kizer says the father was home at the time, but police are still investigating the circumstances surrounding the attack. He says an autopsy report released Thursday shows Logan died of multiple dog bites.
Kizer tells 8NEWS that residents who have five or more dogs must have a kennel license. Authorities are investigating whether the father had a license for the seven dogs in the home.
All seven dogs were seized and are at the county shelter in the custody of Henrico Animal Control.
Kizer says no decision has been made yet on what will happen to the five rotweilers that were not involved in the attack.
Reaction from Logan's School
All of the students at Pinchbeck Elementary School received a letter from the school today, talking about how they are dealing with the death of Logan Johnson. It talks about how they have counselors and others on hand to talk to those students. We also spoke with parents in the neighborhoods today, who have children attending the school to get their reaction."
Pinchbeck mother Ianna Tomasello says, "I am full of sympathy for the family. I cannot imagine how horrible I would feel if this happened to me, one of my children, anyone I knew."
Ianna Tomasello says she's believes this is a tragic accident isolated to one family and shouldn't cause generalized concerns about a certain type of dog. Tomasello says, "I don't think it's a community as a whole issue. I think it's something that be left with him and his family and anyone who knew them."
The neighbor who lives directly behind the house where those dogs attacked tells me the family had only lived there for a few months and from what he could tell, their dogs were pretty average.
Neighbor Charlie Pack says, "They'd bark every once in a while, you know, they'd go out there. They'd bark at noise or whatever and if I would go out there, they would bark when they hear me but that's about all. They didn't seem to be vicious or anything."
Here's again is what we know about the attack: The victim's been identified as six-year-old Matthew Logan Johnson. Police say the child was attacked by two of seven rottweilers found at his home. Animal control officers have seized all seven dogs.
At this time, no charges have been filed.