Boy, 10, Is Critical After Attack by Pit Bulls

A 10-year-old boy was in critical condition after three pit bulls escaped from a home and attacked six people before police shot and killed the dogs, authorities said.

No charges had been filed, but McHenry County Sheriff Keith Nygren said the site of the attack was being treated as a crime scene.

Neighbors said the rampage started late Saturday afternoon when children going door-to-door for a fundraiser arrived at the home of Scott Sword, 41, who owned the dogs.

The pit bulls attacked the boy and another child, and when Sword tried to stop the animals, they turned on him and bit off a thumb, Nygren said. The 10-year-old boy’s father tried to protect his son and was attacked. The dogs went after another neighbor as well, and a sixth person was also injured.