‘They’re literally tugging on him’: Pit bulls known for ‘terrorizing’ neighborhood maul 8-year-old boy to death after he stopped to pet them, cops say

Michael Millett

Left: Michael Millett (GoFundMe). Right: Deputies in DeLand, Florida, try to corral two dogs who mauled Michael to death (Volusia County Sheriff’s Office).

A Florida family is coping with the tragic loss of an 8-year-old boy who was mauled to death by a pair of pit bulls he saw in the street and stopped to pet.

According to Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood, 8-year-old Michael Millett and his friend were riding bikes just before 5 p.m. Monday in the area of Arabesque Drive and Airport Road at the entrance of their subdivision in DeLand when they saw two dogs in the street. Michael got off his bike and went the pet them. At first, they were friendly, but then they suddenly attacked him.

More from Law&Crime: ‘Monster’ Florida man violently slammed puppy on concrete floor: Police

Deputies have released the harrowing 911 call.

“There’s a little boy being attacked by two dogs,” the woman caller said.

The dispatcher asked if the boy knew the dogs and the woman said no.

“And they’re literally tugging on him,” the desperate caller said. “Please hurry. He’s not moving … He was screaming for help, and they’ve pinned him down on the ground and they’re like biting him. But he’s not moving and he’s not responding.”

In another portion of the 911 call, Michael’s mother could be heard in the background screaming his name.

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