A 2-year-old boy was mauled to death by the family’s German shepherd in Murphy Canyon on Saturday, according to police.
Aaron Carlson, 2, was in an upstairs bedroom in the military housing area home on Lofberg St. when the attack happened around 11:30 a.m. His mother was sleeping downstairs.
“The 7-year old came down and told the mother that the 2-year-old had been hurt,” Lt. Rick O'Hanlon said.
A 5-year-old girl and a 3-year-old boy were also home during the attack, police said.
Aaron was taken to Rady Children's Hospital but did not survive.
"This is a tragedy and we are treating it as such," said Lt. Rick O'Hanlon. "There are no criminal charges pending against the mother."
A neighbor who wished to remain anonymous said the dog had been previously abused.
Local
"I don't let my daughter go play at the house unless the dog is locked in the backyard," she said.
The dog (pictured above) was taken to Mission Valley Animal Shelter. The family has owned the shepherd mix for 6 months.
The child’s father is in the Navy and currently deployed overseas.
Lt. Hanlon said that Child Protective Services had been contacted and officials would determine whether the three siblings would remain with the mother.
San Diego County Animals Services said no one has been killed by a dog in the County since 2003.
