Boy, 5, Mauled to Death by Dog on Memorial Day

Several neighbors rushed to the scene to help the boy and some began attacking the dog, witnesses said

A 5-year-old boy was mauled to death by a dog on Chicago’s South Side on Memorial Day.

The attack happened around 9:30 p.m. in the 8900 block of South Carpenter Street, police said. 

A witness said she heard a woman screaming and saw the child's neck in the dog's mouth.

"Me and my brother ran over and I started calling 911 and my brother came across the street with a chair from our porch and tried to hit the dog with the chair but it wasn't working," said neighbor Bianca White. 

Several neighbors rushed to the scene to help the boy and some began attacking the dog, witnesses said.

"We started hitting the dog with a brick, my brother grabbed a pole and kept hitting it until it died," said resident Marquis Lewis. "I wasn't thinking about nothing but getting the dog off the baby."

Police said the dog was dead when officers arrived and the young boy was rushed to Advocate Christ Medical Center with "traumatic injuries." He was pronounced dead at 10:08 p.m., officials said. 

"My heart hurts that we couldn't save him," said 19-year-old Lamar Lewis, who rushed to help save the boy.

The boy was identified as James W. Nevils III, of the 8200 block of South Escanaba St. in Chicago, according to the Cook County Medical Examiner's office. Police have launched a death investigation into how the attack happened. 

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