WASHINGTON PARK, Ill. — A quiet night in an Illinois neighborhood turned horrifying when a 68-year-old man was attacked and killed by a pack of stray dogs while taking a break from work.
The Washington Park Police Department said the attack happened around 10:45 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 27, in the 2100 block of N. 49th Street. Police said two people were attacked by the pack, with one victim later dying from his injuries.
Authorities have identified the deceased man as James L. Gibson.
According to reports from local outlets, Gibson was working on a rental property when he stepped outside to take a smoke break. At least five stray dogs then reportedly rushed toward him.
The dogs allegedly lunged at Gibson, mauled him and dragged him across the street into a ditch, leaving nearby residents horrified by what they heard and witnessed.
Neighbor Hears Man ‘Screaming for His Life’
One nearby resident, Mike Tomlin, described hearing the terrifying sounds coming from the area.
“I heard the man screaming, and then I could hear dogs,” Tomlin said.
He said the man’s screams made it clear that something extremely serious was happening.
“I mean, he was screaming for his life,” Tomlin said. Tomlin later realized Gibson was being attacked by the dogs.
“I realized he was getting mauled by some dogs,” he continued. “I’m being real careful. I’m looking out.”
The incident has left residents shaken, particularly because stray dogs had reportedly been seen in the area before the fatal attack.
Residents Say Stray Dogs Had Become a Concern
Washington Park police said they had received another call about a pack of stray dogs roughly two hours before the fatal attack.
However, St. Clair County Animal Services said the agency did not learn about the deadly incident until the following afternoon. Residents described encounters with the dogs that had already made them uncomfortable.
Aretha Harper told Fox 2 Now that she had previously been able to chase the dogs away when they approached her property. But on the day of the attack, she said one of the animals followed her all the way to her front steps.
“I’m at the door with my bags, and I’m turned back like, ‘Get off this porch! Get!’ and he was not budging,” Harper recalled.
The situation became even more frightening when her husband later witnessed the attack involving Gibson.
“He’s telling me, hollering and screaming, ‘Call 9-1-1! A man is up there at the intersection getting mauled,’ ” Harper said.
Police Shoot Three Dogs After Attack
When Washington Park police officers arrived at the scene, they encountered several aggressive dogs.
Police said officers shot three of the dogs after they became aggressive. The remaining dogs reportedly fled into a nearby wooded area and were not seen again.
The incident has now intensified concerns among residents about the presence of stray dogs in the neighborhood and whether more attacks could occur.
Gibson’s death has particularly affected people who live nearby and say they are now thinking twice about simply walking outside their homes.
Neighbors Afraid to Let Children Play Outside
Following Gibson’s death, residents described a growing sense of fear throughout the neighborhood. Neighbor Fred Harris told that many people in the area have become “afraid to go anywhere.”
Harris said he is taking extra precautions around his property because he does not know when the dogs might appear.
“Make sure I keep my gate closed because you don’t know when they’re coming out,” he said. He also said the situation has affected his willingness to let his 4-year-old granddaughter play outside.
Harris expressed deep sadness over Gibson’s death and said he believes the tragedy could have happened to anyone living nearby.
“It could have been resolved. I’m so sad. I’m saddened by this. I’m sickened by this. It could’ve been me.”
The fatal attack has left Washington Park residents demanding answers as authorities deal with the remaining stray dogs and investigate what led to the deadly encounter.
For neighbors, the tragedy is more than a single devastating loss. It has become a warning about the dangers they say they have been facing in their own community.
What do you think should be done to address dangerous stray dog packs in neighborhoods? Share your thoughts in the comments.