Detroit man charged with murder after 4-year-old dies in dog mauling
DETROIT (WJBK) - The owner of the four dogs authorities say were involved in a mauling that killed a 4-year-old boy is being charged with second-degree murder.
The attack happened on Saturday, December 5 in the 15000 block of Baylis, which is near the John C. Lodge Service Drive and Linwood Street.
Xiaver Strickland was walking with his mother down the street when the dogs dragged him away to the backyard. The child was fatally attacked by the dogs.
The police were called, and a sergeant saw the attack and fired his weapon to get the dogs off the boy. Three of the dogs were killed by shots fired at the scene, and the fourth dog was quarantined and later euthanized.
Xiaver was later pronounced dead at a local hospital.
Authorities are charging 41-year-old Geneke Lyons with second-degree murder, manslaughter, and possessing dangerous animals causing death. Authorities allege the dogs were dangerous animals and had escaped their fenced area in the past and had been a known problem in the neighborhood.
Lyons will be arraigned on the charges Monday afternoon.