The 8-month-old boy mauled to death by a pit bull last week was identified Tuesday as Tyzhel Latella McWilliams, according to authorities.
Deputies responding to found the gravely wounded infant in the arms of a woman. Investigators say a pit bull attacked the baby just before 5 p.m. June 14 at a home on the 3500 block of West Street.
McWilliams was transported to Rady Children’s Hospital, where he was pronounced dead just after 6 p.m.
Three pit bulls were seized by animal control officers and confiscated from the home. Authorities determined Tuesday that just one of the dogs was involved in the incident. That dog is expected to be euthanized, according to authorities.
What will happen to the animals remains to be seen. The disposition of the three dogs has not been released by officials from the Chula Vista Animal Care Facility, sheriff’s homicide Lt. Larry Nesbit said.
The canines are being held at the South Bay shelter while they undergo a standard 10-day rabies quarantine, according to Anne Steinberger, communications manager of Chula Vista.
If the animals are classified as “dangerous dogs” due to the fatality, they will be euthanized, Steinberger said.
“This case will ultimately be submitted to the district attorney for review,” he said.
It could take sheriff's detectives weeks or even months to complete their investigation, according to Nesbit.
Homicide detectives were called in to conduct the investigation because it involved the sudden or unexpected death of an infant, Nesbit said.
Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call investigators at 858-974-2321 (after hours) or 858-565-5200, or Crime Stoppers at 888-580-8477 (TIPS).
—City News Service contributed to this report.
