Sheriff: Boy, 14, fatally attacked by family dog in rural Minnesota
A 14-year-old boy's death in rural Minnesota is under investigation and the sheriff's office believes the child was killed by his family's dog.
According to the Otter Tail County Sheriff's Office, authorities conducting a welfare check found the boy dead in a yard in the rural Battle Lake area just after 3 p.m. Thursday.
The 14-year-old "was believed to have been attacked by the family dog – a 3-year-old long-haired German shepherd – the sheriff's office said in a release.
The dog, which was purchased out of Poland six months ago, was "extremely aggressive" when deputies arrived at the scene. It was put down due to public safety and at the request of the dog's owner.
The child's identity has not been be released. The investigation is ongoing and the dog has been transported to North Dakota State University for a necropsy.
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Note: Details provided in this story are based on the police’s latest version of events, and may be subject to change.