Pit Bull Attacks and Dogfighting in Illinois: Mar 03, 2013 Galesburg Pit Bulls Kill 7 year old Ryan Maxwell

Mar 03, 2013 Galesburg Pit Bulls Kill 7 year old Ryan Maxwell

Rest in Peace Ryan Maxwell

Illinois pit bull fatality map
Click here to go to the actual map created by dogsbite.org

Galesburg - A seven year old boy playing in the backyard of a home he was visiting was killed by a pit bull that may have broken its restraint to get to the boy.

The pit bull was still attacking the boy when police arrived who were able to get the pit bull off the boy. The pit bull then began attacking the police and was shot.

The boy died at Cottage hospital.

The sole Illinois news outlet that has covered this story is local and has not disclosed the type of dog involved. The first outlet to speak to investigators and report the type of dog was KWQC in Iowa.

In the 2011 fatal pit bull mauling in Rockford, AP Illinois never acknowledged that the dogs were pit bulls and this fatality received very little media attention.

UPDATE: Another local outlet, WGIL, reported the story, repeating earlier stories and confirming that the police had not released the identity of the child or the kind of dog involved.

However WHBF-TV out of Rock Island, IL interviewed the owners of the pit bull who said they'd owned the pit bull for one and a half years. and that it not ever shown aggression before. They describe the horror of a vicious pit bull attack that they were unable to stop.

"Family members say they'll never forget the screaming and the brutal scene of their dog mauling a child."

UPDATE: Ryan Maxwell is the name of the seven year old fatal pit bull attack victim. The Peoria Journal Star news report gave us some insights into the little light lost to pit bulls. He was generous and helpful. He touched and engaged everyone at Nielson elementary where he attended second grade. He was popular and liked by students and staff ever helpful and wanting to please. Rest in Peace.