Miami Gardens, FL – A 71-year-old woman was tragically killed in what police are calling a suspected dog attack early on Monday morning in Miami Gardens, leaving both her family and the local community devastated.
The Attack and Discovery of the Victim
The victim, Doreen Richards, was found by police behind Norwood Elementary with multiple dog bites. Authorities confirmed that Miami-Dade Fire Rescue pronounced her dead at the scene. According to her daughter, Richards was on her way to work in the area of Northwest 196th Street and 14th Court, when she was attacked by more than one dog.
“She’s always walking to work like she always does. They’re always attacking her. She even [carried] a stick,” said Richards’ daughter.
Witness Accounts of the Incident
Neighbors described hearing strange noises early that morning. Viviana Vargas, who was staying at an Airbnb nearby, initially thought the sounds were just dogs fighting.
“What I heard was dogs, and we thought it was a fight. There was a special sound that said some dog is dying, but I never imagined it was a person,” Vargas recalled.
Another resident expressed concern over the safety of the area, especially with a school nearby.
“It’s very concerning, not just for me, but we have a school right here and kids,” a neighbor shared.
Ongoing Investigation into the Attack
Following the attack, Miami Gardens police and animal control officers were seen canvassing the neighborhood, searching for the dogs involved. According to Hermesteen, whose nephew owns two dogs in the area, investigators swabbed the animals’ DNA as part of the investigation.
“They came because they’re checking all the dogs that [fit] the description — supposedly pit, but it’s not really fully pit — and they wanna swab their DNA,” Hermesteen said.
At this time, the dogs involved and their owner have not been located, and the investigation is still ongoing.
Community and Family Reactions
The attack has left the community shaken. Neighbors described the incident as horrifying and expressed their concern for public safety.
“Terrible, it’s a terrible thing to happen,” said Kim Gibson, a local resident. “I don’t know her. I don’t know who she is, but it’s an awful thing to get mauled by a dog.”
Richards’ family is still reeling from the tragedy, while the community remains heartbroken and anxious, knowing that the dogs are still on the loose.
Conclusion
This deadly incident has sparked widespread concern over the presence of dangerous dogs in the neighborhood and has left a family grieving the loss of a beloved member. As authorities continue to search for the animals responsible for the attack, the community remains on edge.
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