AKRON, Ohio — Akron Police are investigating after they say a 15-year-old boy was accidentally shot and killed during a dog attack.
According to police, the shooting happened around 7:15 p.m. on Tuesday at a home in the 1200 block of Packard Drive.
Police said a 14-year-old boy was visiting when a Cane Corso, which is a large breed dog, attacked the younger teen and latched onto his arm.
The 14-year-old pulled out a gun, say police, and fired several shots, striking the dog, and accidentally shot a 15-year-old, identified by family as Josiah Harris, in the stomach.
Family members said Harris was trying to protect his friend and his dog when he was struck.
"He cherished that dog, and at the time of incident, he was trying to protect his dog from being shot, and unfortunately, that's what happened. He ended up getting shot. He tried to shelter him," Harris's uncle, Tim Robbins, said.
Neighbor Tyler James, who is a combat medic in the Ohio Army National Guard, performed CPR before Harris was transported to Akron Children's Hospital, where he later died from his injuries, police said.
"I kept thinking what I would do if it was my kid ... I pray for his family," James said.
He said some of Harris's final words have left him heartbroken.
"He kept saying, 'Just tell my mom I love her. Tell my mom I love her.' I tried to keep him with me," James said.
The 14-year-old was transported to the Akron Children's for dog bite injuries.
"They're both so young, so you got two lives shattered," said Harris's aunt, Donta Spaulding.
At this time, it appears the dog survived.
Harris's family told News 5 that he was a triplet and was going into his sophomore year at Buchtel High School.
They described him as funny and someone who loved animals.
No charges have been filed.
"We're not ruling anything out. We need to look at how he was able to access a gun, where he got it from, who the gun belonged to, and there's a lot of unanswered questions that we need to get down to the bottom of," Akron Police Lt. Michael Murphy said.
