Detroit Pit Bull Owner Charged in Mauling Death of Emma Hernandez, age 9

Pit bull owner, Pierre Cleveland, has been charged with second degree murder, involuntary manslaughter and having a dangerous animal causing death.

During his arraignment, prosecutors alleged that Cleveland knew his pit bull dogs were vicious, stating that in July, one of his dogs had killed one puppy and another of the dogs had killed multiple puppies inside his house. Prosecutors further stated that even with the knowledge his dogs were aggressive and dangerous, Cleveland left the dogs outside unsecured allowing them to escape and kill Emma Hernandez, age 9.

This is not the first horrific mauling death of a child in Detroit by vicious pit bulls. Xavier Strickland, age 4, was viciously torn away from his mother by 4 pit bulls and mauled to death while walking to school in 2015. Detroit has had pit bull problems for years. The question now is what action will Detroit take to stop the threat pit bulls pose to public safety?

Comments 1

  • These pitbulls and pit mixes are a menace to our society! I’ve already had 2 unprovoked attacks and one was in my yard, we can’t even go for a walk anymore because we live in fear of these maulers! They need to be banned, they are not appropriate for a family dog! Stricter guidelines that are actually followed up on and bigger penalties when not followed. Muzzle these dam dogs! Stop breeding these killers we don’t need this type of dog, they are absolutely good for nothing!! I should be able to go outside and feel safe in my neighborhood not live in fear and have to carry a weapon because some idiot can’t contain or control their dam dog! I now keep a pitchfork in my yard because the next ones getting forked!!!