Four-year-old boy killed by American Bully in Louisa, Virginia, police euthanize dog

Garcia Welch, a four-year-old who had recently started preschool at Thomas Jefferson Elementary School, was fatally attacked by an American Bully in the 1500 block of Jefferson Highway, Louisa, Virginia, on Sunday around 4:42 p.m. Louisa County deputies arrived to find the child with critical injuries as the dog kept attacking, leading them to destroy the animal to stop the assault. An air ambulance transported Garcia to a hospital, where he was later declared dead.

Authorities have not identified the dog's owner or explained how the incident began, and the Criminal Investigations Division is seeking information from the public. Garcia is survived by his mother Cathleen, an older brother, and extended family, who have thanked the community for their support.