Pit Bulls in Deadly Attack Put Down

The two dogs Hillsborough County Sheriff’s deputies found standing over the body of a 4-year-old Logan Shepard Saturday night have been “humanely euthanized,” officials say.

The dogs that belonged to the boy’s Aunt and Uncle, Delores and Billy Frederick Sr., were put down by Sunday afternoon, according to The Tampa Tribune. Tests will be run on both dogs to see if there were medical problems that might have triggered the deadly attack, county spokeswoman Marti Ryan told The Tribune.

The attack that resulted in Logan’s death occurred around 10:35 p.m. Saturday night at the Fredericks’ Riverview home on Rhodine Road. Logan and his mother, Stephanie Groulx, had walked from their Tocci Lane home to visit with family members. Before the two arrived, Billy Frederick Sr. crated his two pit bulls. 

While Logan was eating ice cream, the adults and a 15-year-old cousin went into a master bedroom to talk, an email from sheriff’s office spokeswoman Debbie Carter said.

“While the adults were in the bedroom they heard screams and came out to discover Logan was not in the house,” Carter wrote. Two deputies who were on a traffic stop nearby also heard the screams and responded.

“The two deputies ran to the residence and discovered Logan in the front yard with the two pit bulls standing over him,” Carter wrote. “The owner, Billy Frederick Sr. immediately crated the dogs, but unfortunately, Logan was pronounced deceased at the scene.”

The Fredericks have no history of animal calls at their home, Carter said.

No charges have been filed in the case. Ryan told the Tribune more information about the dogs is foregoing medical testing.