Police: 4-year-old boy attacked by family dog in Juniata

Philadelphia police say a 4-year-old boy was attacked by a family dog on the 4600 block of Shelbourne Street in the city's Juniata neighborhood.

According to police, the neighbor who fatally shot the dog has been released without charges.

It happened around 3 p.m. Monday.

The man taken in for questioning told FOX 29 he was just trying keep the neighborhood safe when he pulled a gun and shot a neighbor's Pit Bull Terrier dead after mauling the young boy.

"The mom and dad came running and they seen the dog attacking the little baby so they just started screaming for help," one witness said.

Two 12-year-old neighborhood boys riding bikes witnessed the whole thing. They say the family pet had the neck of the little boy in it's jaws.

"After the dog bit most of the skin off of his neck--let go--people just started screaming at him," the witness said.

The kids say neighbors were using sticks and a weedwacker to pry the dog off the boy.

"Everyone grabbed every tool they could find to like get the dog off of it, but the dog wouldn't let go," another witness explained.

They say moments after the dog let go the neighbor shot and killed the Pit Bull Terrier. Meanwhile, police officers rushed the boy to St. Christopher Hospital where he was listed in stable condition.