PATERSON — Law enforcement officials today identified the victim of a fatal dog attack as a 13-year-old Paterson boy.
Paterson Police Sgt. David Rios said Kenneth Santilla was the teenager mauled and killed by a 115-pound bull mastiff on Friday night. Family members, however, said the boy's last name is Santillan.
The dog named “Trigger” also injured another 13-year-old boy, who police have not yet identified.
After the attack, friends and family of the dead teen searched the neighborhood for Kenneth until they found him after 11 p.m. on a nearby riverbank, authorities said.
John DeCando, Paterson’s animal control officer, said the dog was humanely euthanized and the animal’s remains have been sent to Trenton to test for rabies.
The owner of the dog, who police today identified as 50-year-old Paul Clarke of Paterson, was also wounded and had stabbed the animal several times before the dog was killed by authorities, according to officials.
DeCando said the dog was in grave condition before he was euthanized. "He was actually bleeding to death," he said.
DeCando said his heart went out to the family of the victim.
He said he has grandchildren that age. "It rips you apart. It should have never happened.," he said. "It's a senseless loss of life."
Adam Rothenberg, a lawyer representing the family of the13-year-old boy wounded in the attack, said his clients do not wish to speak to reporters.
He said the family is “trying to take care of the boy and comfort him.”
“The child suffered a devastating loss,” he said. “The two boys were best friends.”
Rothenberg said after the 13-year-old boy was released from the hospital on Friday, he joined the search for his friend.
Related coverage:
• Dog that killed Paterson teen was a ticking time bomb, neighbors say
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