Boy severely wounded in dog attack

A 7-year-old boy suffered a “significant injury” to his leg after a pitbull bit him Friday night, causing a neighbor to shoot the dog to protect the child, according to Las Vegas police.

The attack took place at 6 p.m. in the 2100 block of Exeter Drive in the Northeast Valley, in the vicinity of East Lake Mead and North Hollywood Boulevard, said Lt. John Loretto.

“He was bit in the calf. This is a significant injury,” Loretto said, adding that the boy was rushed to University Medical Center, where he’s being treated for the injury.

Animal control was called to the scene to retrieve the dog which survived the shooting, and investigators believe the animal either belonged to a family member or friends of the family, Loretto said.

Metro’s abuse and neglect team were also on scene, documenting what occurred and talking to witnesses.

The attack occurred outside of the family’s duplex, and police late Friday night were still trying to identify the neighbor who shot the dog, Loretto said.