Family of 11-year-old mauled by dog grateful for ‘police hero’

BOSTON — The family of an 11-year-old recovering from severe injuries after a dog attack is thanking an off-duty officer who saved the child.

It happened shortly after 12 p.m. on Rock Terrace in Dorchester.

Boston Police said the off-duty patrol officer, who lives nearby, jumped several fences to help the boy as he was being bitten repeatedly on his neck, arm and groin.

The off-duty officer fired his department-issued gun to foil the attack and also used his department-issued radio to call for assistance.

It’s unclear if the bullet hit the dog, but police said the gunfire stopped the dog from continuing to bite the boy.

The boy’s family provided a handwritten note to Boston 25 News:

“The Rodriguez Rojas family is grateful for the police hero who rescued our son Bramwell,” the note stated. “My heart is grateful that all the police officers have done a great job.”

The child was rushed to the hospital with injuries described by police as “vicious”. Police said the off-duty officer was also transported to an area hospital as a precaution.

“Thank god the officer was there to intervene. If he didn’t, the dog was going to continue to attack this child,” said Boston Police Commissioner William Gross. “There was another pit bull being restrained that I’m confident would have joined in on the attack as well.”

Animal control seized two pit bulls after the horrific attack.

Police said the dogs and the boy who was attacked live in the same multi-family home on Rock Terrace. However, it’s unclear if they live in the same household.

“I was scared every time I’ve seen them. They were loose many times before,” said one neighbor, who did not want to use her name. “Someone was always trying to get them back in, but they were not listening... so I guess they weren’t trained.”

Several neighbors told Boston 25 News they’ve seen the dogs running unleashed on a number of previous occasions. No charges have been filed in this case at this time.

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