In a tragic incident, a three-month-old infant and her grandfather were apparently fatally attacked by the family’s pitbulls. The body of James Alexander Smith, aged 50, was discovered by authorities inside a residence in Tullahoma, Tennessee, while the baby was still under assault by the seven dogs and ultimately succumbed to the injuries.
Law enforcement officers had to resort to shooting the dogs to reach the victims, but unfortunately, they could not save the infant following the disturbing event on December 3. An inquiry has been initiated to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident and ascertain whether the victims were killed by the dogs or were already deceased.
A neighbor, Rebecca Adams, recounted that the child’s mother was heard screaming “my baby” as police entered the property at approximately 3 pm on a Wednesday. She mentioned that the dogs were usually kept in a yard but frequently escaped and posed a threat to the pets of local residents.
Attorney General Craig Northcott described the scene as “especially difficult and brutal,” urging prayers for the victims’ family and the first responders who had to deal with the traumatic situation they encountered.
The official statement provided details of the distressing event, stating that the police responded to a call regarding the apparent mauling by pitbulls of James Alexander Smith and his three-month-old granddaughter at a specific address in Tullahoma. Upon arrival, the officers witnessed the dogs attacking the infant and had to euthanize the animals to halt the attack, confirming the tragic deaths of both victims.
The ongoing investigation aims to determine the exact cause of death, whether there were prior incidents involving aggressive behavior by these or other dogs in the household, any history of issues related to child welfare services, and other potential factors contributing to the situation. No decisions regarding potential criminal charges have been made yet. The dogs involved have been euthanized, and the other dogs in the residence are now in the care of Tullahoma Animal Control for further evaluation and appropriate action.
