WARREN, Mich – Officers shot and killed a family's pit bull Friday morning after the dog attacked a grandmother, a mother and a 3-year-old at a home in Warren.
The attack happened around 11 a.m. in the 21000 block of Louge Avenue near 9 Mile and Ryan roads.
According to Warren police, the family’s dog attacked the 3-year-old boy and caused serious facial injuries.
The 47-year-old grandmother tried to take the pit bull off the boy and the dog attacked her, biting her arms. The child’s mother stepped in and was bit in the arm.
The dog continued to act aggressively towards officers, so it was shot and killed, police said.
All three victims were taken to Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak. They are still in the hospital receiving treatment. Officials said the 3-year-old's injuries are the most serious.
Neighbors said they heard the family screaming for help before Warren police arrived. One man said he watched in horror as the family rushed out of their home covered in blood.
"I heard a lot of screaming coming from over in that direction," the neighbor said. "Next you know, I see the Warren police pull up, and they took a kid out. The whole top of his head was bloody. The mother, she had puncture wounds on her side. Then they brought another lady out (with) blood all over her left side.
"I think it would be really scary. You've got a pit bull that crushed down on you, that's a lot of pressure that they put on you through one bite ... I just hope that the kid and the mother and them are all right, though."
Neighbors said the family moved into the home about a month ago. They said they'd seen the dog outside a few times and described the pit bull as "a large dog."
Police said it's unclear if the attack was unprovoked or if the dog was startled into attacking. Police don't know if there's a history of aggression with the pit bull.
Warren police are continuing to investigate the incident.
Stay with Local 4 and ClickonDetroit.com as more information becomes available.
Sign up for ClickOnDetroit breaking news alerts and email newsletters