Burleson, TX – A sleeping newborn boy was mauled to death by the family’s mixed breed pit bull . Police officers had been called to the home on a domestic violence issue just before the deadly dog attack occurred. Rayden Eugene Bruce was placed alone in a bedroom while police officers separately interviewed the baby’s parents about the 911 call.
The newborn’s mother, Jessica Oxner, called for assistance after a verbal argument with the child’s father, Barnett Bruce, allegedly became physical. Four officers arrived on the scene to sort out the domestic disturbance between the recently separated couple. The officers were unaware that there were any dogs on the premises, according to the Daily Mail .
Baby Rayden had been outside in his mother’s arms while his father was questioned inside. When the child fell asleep, Grandpa Richard Douglas took him inside the home. As the law enforcement officers were wrapping up their questioning around 8 pm, they heard loud screaming coming from the house, NBC News reports.
Bruce ran out of the home carrying his son’s limp and bloody body. The child was immediately transported to the Cook Children’s Medical Center in Fort Worth to treat his pit bull attack wounds. The newborn later died from the dog mauling injuries.
Brody, the pit bull, was quarantined by the Burleson Animal Control and later euthanized at the owner’s request. The local animal control agency had received reports about Brody in the past, one when he was running loose and another over a minor bite wound. An investigation into the fatal pit bull attack is ongoing.