By James Queally and Seth Augenstein/Star-Ledger Staff
PATERSON — A 13-year-old Paterson boy was killed this morning when a bull mastiff broke loose from its home and mauled two teenagers near the Passaic River, prosecutors said.
The victims, who were not identified, were attacked in the area of Rossiter and Crosby avenues early on Saturday morning, according to Passaic County Assistant Prosecutor Michael DeMarco. The dog, described as a bull mastiff, attacked both children in the street after breaking free from a nearby residence, DeMarco said.
One of the victims, a 13-year-old city resident, died in the attack. A second teenager, also 13 years old, was able to escape after the dog pounced, and DeMarco said that child was being treated at St. Joseph's Medical Center in Paterson for undisclosed injuries.
An animal control officer eventually "put the dog down," according to DeMarco, who said he was not sure if the animal was shot or killed by other means.
Prosecutors have identified the owner of the dog, though it was not immediately clear how the animal escaped. There was no relationship between the victims and the owner.
Criminal charges had not been filed as of 1 p.m.
Neighbors on Sherwood Avenue say a large police presence filled several streets in the area Friday and early this morning.
Orlando Cepeda said he and his wife were walking near Sherwood Avenue and Crosby Avenue around 4 p.m. on Friday when they saw a teenage boy terrified and bleeding from his left hand.
"He said, 'a dog bit me'," Cepeda said. "He was running. He was scared." A driveway on Sherwood Avenue was splattered with blood today.
About 50 yards away, another neighbor, Jose Hernandez, said he saw ambulances, flood lights and police investigators on an embankment of the Passaic River at 2 a.m. He also pointed to blood stains on snow covering the embankment.
Paterson Detective Capt. Heriberto Rodriguez said more information will be forthcoming later today.
The attack marks the second time this month a child has been grievously wounded in a dog attack. Several weeks ago, a 10-year-old Newark boy was critically injured when he was left alone with two pitbulls in his father's apartment. The child suffered several bites and slashes before a neighbor broke down the door to rescue him. The victim's father, 41-year-old Enrique Carillo, was charged with child endangerment.
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