Boy Attacked, Critically Injured By Pit Bulls In East New York, Brooklyn
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- A 5-year-old boy was in extremely critical condition Friday evening after being attacked by two pit bulls inside an East New York, Brooklyn apartment.
Police said the boy was playing inside an apartment in the building at 558 Riverdale Ave. in Brooklyn when he was attacked around dinnertime Friday. Neighbors said the boy's name was Jeremiah.
Neighbor Tarell Williams told CBS2's Jessica Layton said it was the worst chaos one could imagine.
"Yelling, screaming, crying," he said. "It's unbearable -- 5 years old."
He said he knew the family.
"I know the mother and the father, and they've got three kids," Williams said.
The siblings are a younger brother and sister.
A corner surveillance camera showed paramedics loading the child into the ambulance on a stretcher. The frantic father collapsed and was consoled by first responders - before falling to the ground again.
"The father got the dog about a month ago. It's just, it's just, crazy," said neighbor Fawaz Oluokun as he choked up with emotion. "I don't know."
Neighbors got emotional talking about little Jeremiah and the torture he must have gone through as he was attacked by the two pit bulls. Jeremiah was left with severe injuries to his face.
When asked if the dogs had caused problems, Williams said, "I've never seen the dog vicious or anything like that."
The boy was initially to be taken to Brookdale University Hospital Medical Center after the attack around 6:45 p.m., but he was instead taken to Northwell Health Long Island Jewish Medical Center in New Hyde Park due to the severity of his injuries, police said.
Authorities took the animals away in crates as Jeremiah's father followed the ambulance to the hospital. And his East New York Neighbors said they are waiting for word and praying every step of the way.
"I'm just hoping that he makes it; that he's still alive," Williams said, "because he didn't get to live his life yet."
As of 11 p.m., police were still guarding the home. It was not clear who was home with Jeremiah when he was attacked.