The Detroit man who owned four dogs that fatally mauled a 4-year-old boy on Dec. 2 has been charged with second-degree murder and manslaughter, prosecutor Kym Worthy announced Monday.
Geneke Antonio Lyons, 41, was also charged with possessing animals that caused a death, according to Reuters.
Prosecutors noted that the dogs had escaped in the past and were known in the neighborhood for their vicious nature.
Xavier Strickland had been walking with his mother, Lucille Strickland, at around 12:30 p.m. that day as she made her way to Thurgood Marshall Elementary School when the pit bulls rushed them, reported the Detroit Free Press. Lucille fell on Xavier, prompting them to bite her ear, leg and back. As she got up, the dogs turned their attention to Xavier and dragged him away, inflicting "massive fatal injuries" as they mauled him.
Xavier was rushed to the hospital following the attack where he was pronounced dead. The autopsy determined that he died of an accident by multiple puncture wounds.
A police sergeant happened to be nearby and saw the attack, prompting him to shoot and kill three of the dogs, while the fourth was captured and later euthanized, according to the Associated Press.
"It is a gross understatement to say that this case is a harrowing example of irresponsible pet ownership," Worthy said.
Meanwhile, Xavier's parents have filed a civil lawsuit against Lyons and the property manager, which alleges that Lucille was permanently injured trying to save her son's life.
"This case should be a wake-up call for our community," said lawyer Mark Bernstein, who represents the family. "We get calls every day at our office about injuries caused by dogs with dangerous owners. But this affects our region more profoundly - it's the death of a child. It's time to address this problem in a very serious way."
