Dog Owner Cited After Boy Mauled To Death; Victim's Grandfather 'Not Happy At All'
CHICAGO (CBS) -- The grandfather of a 5-year-old boy killed by a dog Monday night said the dog's owner got off too light, after being cited for two ordinance violations.
"That's all you get? My grandson's gone forever, and all you get is two tickets? Yeah, I have a problem with that," James Nevils said of the mauling death of his grandson, James Nevils III.
The 5-year-old was attacked around 9:30 p.m. Monday in the 8900 block of South Carpenter Street. Neighbors used bricks, knives, sticks, chairs, and anything else they could get their hands on in a frenzied attempt to beat the dog away from the boy, but it was too late.
James was taken to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, where he was pronounced dead. An autopsy determined he died from multiple sharp and blunt force injuries of the head and neck, and his death was ruled an accident.
Police have not provided information about their investigation, but have issued the dog's owner, 27-year-old Kyle Hannah, with citations for not having a dog license, and not having updated rabies vaccinations for his dog. No criminal charges have been filed.
James' grandfather called that a disgrace.
"I'm not happy at all at that. I'm not happy at all. I expected something more than what they received. Two citations for a life? That's it?" he said.
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Nevils suggested the family might file a civil lawsuit, but he said the immediate concern is coming up with the money for his grandson's funeral. He said the dog owner is a cousin of the boy's mother.
Neighbors killed the dog in their attempts to get it to drop James. Witnesses said the dog appeared to be a pit bull, but police have not confirmed the dog's breed.
Neighbors said the dog typically was kept locked up, but its owner apparently was not home at the time of the attack. They said the owner arrived just after the attack, wondering how the dog got loose.
Nevils said his grandson was a "very loving and kind little baby. Just that this happened to him, in this terrible way, it's just tearing me up inside," and he thanked the neighbors who tried to save his grandson.
The family has also set up a GoFundME page to help cover funeral expenses.
