The canine that mauled a four-year-old lady to dying in Milton Keynes was a household pet, which was put down by police on the home.
Alice Stones was set upon whereas enjoying within the again backyard of her house in Buckinghamshire on Tuesday afternoon.
Thames Valley Cops had been known as to the home in Broadlands, Netherfield simply after 5pm, the place Alice later died.
The canine was destroyed by armed officers, police mentioned in an replace on Wednesday.
Alice Stones was mauled to dying by a canine in her again backyard
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Her household are “attempting to return to phrases” with the “horrendous” tragedy, a relative instructed MailOnline.
Tons of of individuals gathered on Wednesday evening at a candlelit vigil held in reminiscence of Alice.
After being known as to the canine assault, armed police raided the house and are believed to have cornered the canine.
Thames Valley Police has mentioned no arrests have been made as they proceed to analyze the assault.
Locals left flowers outdoors the home on Wednesday, whereas neighbours described Alice’s mom’s “determined screams” as her youngster was killed by the animal, which they declare was purchased about six weeks in the past.
“I heard ‘She’s lifeless! She’s lifeless!’” a neighbour mentioned. “They’ll stick with me endlessly. It was a nightmare. I’m heartbroken. They may hang-out me.”
Neighbour and mom of 4 Rita Matthews, 36, mentioned: “I all the time noticed the little lady on the best way to highschool together with her mum as a result of she is similar age as my daughter.
Police on the scene in Netherfield, Milton Keynes the place the tragic incident occurred
(PA Wire)
“I heard screams of the little lady coming from the backyard however I didn’t know what was happening.
“A lot of police vehicles turned up and we had been all instructed to remain inside. I then noticed on Fb what had occurred and was shocked.
“I had by no means heard any canine noises coming from the home earlier than and I don’t assume they also have a canine of their very own. I really feel so unhappy as a result of I’ve 4 youngsters and I really feel for the little lady’s mom.”
A neighbour whose youngsters go to highschool with Alice instructed The Solar that residents had been instructed by police to remain inside in case the canine escaped.
An officer allegedly warned: “If this canine will get out, someone goes to get harm.”
One neighbour described how she heard ‘screams of the little lady’ through the assault
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The neighbour described the animal as a “huge brown canine” that the household obtained just a few weeks again however had “solely seen it on the home.”
Michelle Kitchener, 54, mentioned Alice lived in the home together with her mom Louise who’s a single mom.
The mom of two mentioned: “The mum all the time saved herself to herself however I might generally see her drop the little lady off at nursery or faculty.
“At 5.30pm I heard police vehicles coming down the road after which after I look outdoors there was numerous police.
“I’ve by no means seen or heard a canine bark coming from that home. I didn’t even know that they had a canine.”
In an replace on Wednesday, superintendent Marc Tarbit, native policing space commander for Milton Keynes, mentioned: “Our ideas are with the household and buddies of the lady who has died on this extraordinarily tragic incident.
“Our law enforcement officials stay on the scene of this extraordinarily tragic incident, which has shocked the entire metropolis. If anybody desires to talk to our officers, please be happy to strategy them with any questions or considerations that you’ll have.”
Flowers have been laid close to the home the place the four-year-old lady died
(PA Wire)
He mentioned the investigation was persevering with “at tempo” and urged anybody with info to assist the investigation to return ahead.
No arrests have been made in reference to this incident and nobody else was injured, police mentioned.
The lady’s dying got here hours after an inquest was instructed that 28-year-old canine walker Natasha Johnston died of “a number of penetrating bites” to her neck after being mauled by eight canines she was strolling in a Surrey magnificence spot on 12 January.
Crowds gathered on the vigil held for Alice on Wednesday and prayers had been mentioned for the household as individuals held candles within the darkness in a inexperienced house on the rear of the place of worship.
There have been moments of reflection as music was performed over audio system, together with Superb Grace and Over The Rainbow.
Donna Fuller, a ward councillor for Woughton Group Council, mentioned the world has a “tight-knit neighborhood, predominantly households”.
She mentioned the vigil was to “allow the neighborhood to return collectively and draw energy from one another”.
Ms Fuller added: “It is going to ship a robust message to the household that we’re considering of them.”
She mentioned there may be “such a way of shock” and it’s an “terrible scenario”.
She instructed gathered crowds: “This household will want the time and house to permit them to course of this tragic occasion and I hope that we will try this and assist them sooner or later.
“I might ask that we help one another.
“There’s a feeling of deep unhappiness that we are going to really feel as a neighborhood so I ask you to be neighbourly and I ask you to be supportive and most of all I ask you to be form.”
