Grief counselors are being offered at a local elementary school as a stunned community tries to come to grips with the death of a 9-year-old girl attacked by a pit bull while playing with friends in a Long Island backyard over the weekend.
Amiyah Dunston, a fourth-grade student at Plaza Elementary school, died Sunday after the dog attacked her at a friend's house. A woman inside the house rushed out and tried to pull the dog off the girl, but couldn't. Dunston had been playing with two other girls at the time of the attack; they were not harmed.
Amiyah's distraught mother offered no comment to reporters outside her Baldwin home Monday but the girl's stepfather said in a short statement, "Amiyah was a phenomenal little girl who has touched many lives with her presence, smiles and laughs. We thank you for all your support and your prayers. Please let us mourn our terrible, tragic loss."
"The Baldwin School District and the entire Baldwin community extend their deepest sympathies to the family of Plaza Elementary School student Amiyah Dunston," Shari Camhi, superintendent of Baldwin schools, said in a statement. "While we are respecting the privacy of the family, we will continue to reach out to support them, students, and staff in dealing with this tragedy. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family at this very difficult time."
Nassau County police officers responding to the 911 call at the Holland Avenue house in Elmont found the dog attacking the girl. When one of the officers entered the yard from the house, the dog charged at the officer, who shot and killed the animal, said Detective Michael Bitsko.
There had been no previous complaints to police about the dog, Bitsko said, adding that he didn't know why the dog attacked the girl.
Nassau Police Commissioner Thomas Krumpter said Monday, "Just talking about it, I get a chill up my spine, because I can't imagine anything more horrifying than that."
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A neighbor named Maryann lives down the streets and watched the pit bull walk past her home countless times.
"Never vicious or mean or anything, the dog," she said.
The dog's owner, Carlyle Arnold, 29, lives in a second-floor apartment of the house. He was arrested on an unrelated charge of violating an order of protection and was questioned about the attack. But the Nassau district attorney said Monday it will be difficult to bring any criminal charges against the pit bull's owner because the dog was never deemed a dangerous animal.
