1-Year-Old Baby Mauled and Killed by Two Dogs, Later Shot by Police in Hickory Hill
(Image: GETTY/SCSO)
A tragic incident in Hickory Hill has left a community in shock after a child and two dogs died following a violent attack. The heartbreaking event occurred on Friday at the Cedar Run Apartments, where a one-year-old infant was mauled by two large dogs.
Donald Redd, a resident of the complex and a dog owner himself, expressed his sorrow and disbelief upon hearing the news. “Two dogs weighing over 70 pounds with a one-year-old infant, they don’t stand a chance,” Redd said, reflecting the sentiments of many in the community who are grappling with the tragedy. “I don’t really understand what would make them turn like that on a child.”
According to police, the dogs were actively attacking the infant when officers arrived at the scene. Despite their efforts to intervene, the situation escalated, and the officers were forced to shoot and kill both dogs. The child was rushed to the hospital in critical condition but, tragically, succumbed to the injuries on Saturday morning.
Redd, who had seen the dogs with their owner around the apartment complex, was shocked by the incident. “I used to see them walking back and forth to the mailbox and around the complex,” he recalled. “But they didn’t seem like they were that aggressive.”
Neighbors reported that another person was also injured during the attack, although police have not released details about the individual. The cause of the dogs’ sudden aggression remains unclear, leaving the community searching for answers, Fox 10 reported.
“If they turned on the child and the owner, then they not safe to be around no more,” Redd said, drawing a comparison to human unpredictability. “It’s almost like a person; you don’t never know what one is going to do from one day to the next. It all depends on how you raise them, their environment, and everything else.”
As the community mourns, Redd expressed deep sympathy for the grieving family. “It’s sad,” he said. “I don’t know what the mother’s going through, but she’s got to be heartbroken.” WREG reached out to the Memphis Police Department to inquire if anyone would face charges in connection with the incident. Authorities have advised to check back on Monday morning for updates.
