Seth Lovitt, 11, died later in the emergency room at the Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center, said Carroll Smith, spokeswoman for the Killeen Police Department.
Justice of the Peace Garland K. Potvin said he pronounced death at 8:36 p.m.
Ms. Smith said Seth and his 9-year-old brother were running through the house yelling and playing when the pit bull leapt from the couch, knocked Seth to the floor and began biting his neck.
She said the reason for the dog attacking is not known other than the skylarking and playing of the boys could have enraged the dog, a family pet.
She said the boy’s mother and grandmother, who were both home at the time, disengaged the dog from the boy’s throat and called 9-1-1.
Ms. Smith said she did not know if there had been prior complaints about the dog.
The Killeen Animal Control Unit took the dog into custody and placed it into quarantine, she said.
“It is a normal procedure anytime there has been a dog bite,” said Ms. Smith. “The outcome of the investigation will determine if the dog will be destroyed.”
Jerry Gardner, Killeen’s fire chief, said the boy was sent to the emergency room by ground conveyance rather than air ambulance due to the nature of his wounds. He said emergency medical technicians performed CPR on the boy on the way in an attempt to keep him alive during the trip there.
“The outcome does not look favorable,” Gardner told the Telegram in a phone interview just after 7 p.m.
The incident occurred on the city’s southwest side.
Ms. Smith said the investigation was in its infancy late Monday and more information would be released as it becomes available.
Potvin said he ordered the body sent to the Southwestern Institute of Forensic Sciences in Dallas for autopsy.
hclark@temple-telegram.com
