‘Homeless’ teen, 16, dies after entering a backyard and being attacked by three pit bulls, one of which is euthanized after being shot in the jaw by police trying to save the boy
- Nelson Cabrera, 16, died after being attacked by three pit bulls in Irving, Texas
- Police said Cabrera was attacked by the dogs after entering a home’s backyard
- Police attempted to separate them, but the dogs started attacking the officers
- The officers then had to draw their weapons and shoot at the dogs, hitting one
- The pit bull was shot in the mouth and had to be euthanized due to its injuries
The teenager who was attacked by three pit bulls after entering a Texas backyard has died and one of the dogs has now been euthanized after it was shot by police.
Police in Irving, Texas, said the 16-year-old boy, since identified as Nelson Cabrera, entered the backyard of a home at about 4.45am Saturday and was attacked by the homeowner’s three pet pit bulls.
When officers responded to the scene, they jumped over the wooden fence and attempted to stop the attack by getting in between the dogs and Cabrera, police told Fox 4 News.
Police said the 16-year-old boy who entered the backyard of a Texas home he didn’t live in and was attacked by three pit bulls has died from his injuries
But, when the dogs turned their attention towards the officers, they were forced to draw their guns and shot the dogs to protect themselves and Cabrera, who did not live in the home.
The boy was then taken to the hospital, where he died from his injuries.
One of the officers was bitten by one of the dogs, but he was treated and released from the hospital.
All three of the pit bulls – named Bella, Bruce and Little Bit – were seized and taken to the Irving Animal Shelter.
Dog and homeowner Guillermo Lorenzo told WFAA that Bella was ‘shot in the mouth will have to be put down’ while she was doing ‘what she’s supposed to do,’ which Lorenzo believes was attempting to protect him.
Homeowner Guillermo Lorenzo said that he was asleep when the incident occurred and that the dogs was only doing what they were ‘supposed to do’ – protect him
The three dogs were taken to a local animal shelter. One of the dogs, which was shot in the face by police attempting to save the teen, has since been euthanized due to its injuries
Police confirmed that one of the dogs was euthanized due to the nature of its injuries, while the other two pit bulls were still being held at the animal shelter.
Lorenzo said that he was asleep at the time of the attack, but that he recognized Cabrera from an earlier encounter.
‘He told me he’s homeless and I wanted to help him out, actually,’ Lorenzo said.
A police spokesperson told NBC DFW, ‘We don’t want to speculate on what he might have been doing, but we definitely don’t know why he was in that backyard.’
Whatever Cabrera’s reason might’ve been for entering the yard prior to the attack, Lorenzo said that he ultimately shouldn’t have been there.
‘He has no right to be in that yard. Nobody has a right to be in that yard. This is private property. That’s why the fence is tall,’ Lorenzo said.
Police are still investigating the incident, but have already found that the pit bulls were ‘secure’ in their own backyard prior to the attack, meaning Lorenzo will not be facing charges.
If anyone has information about Saturday’s attack, they’re asked to call police at 972-273-1010.