1-year-old baby attacked by dogs identified by Bexar County Medical Examiner’s Office

SAN ANTONIO — A 1-year-old baby who suffered life-threatening injuries after a dog attack Monday has died, according to the Bexar County coroner’s office.

The coroner’s office identified the baby as Jiryiah Johnson on Tuesday. The cause and manner of death were initially unknown.

Johnson was being cared for by Heather Rodriguez, 36, who left the house and locked the baby in a room with her 13-year-old daughter to keep her away from the dogs, according to Sheriff Javier Salazar.

Neither the daughter nor Rodriguez are related to Johnson, the sheriff’s office confirmed Monday.

BCSO said the dogs forced their way into the room because they had previously damaged the door.

The teen couldn’t control the dogs and a “tug of war” began between her and the dogs, Salazar said.

The girl had to break away and leave the baby in the bathroom with the dogs to get her cell phone and call for help. According to BCSO, she then ran back to get the baby into the bathroom.

Salazar said the girl was then able to move herself and the baby to another bedroom and had to barricade the door with her body to keep the dogs out.

Officers then arrived and immediately rendered aid when they saw what had happened.

The baby was taken to Brooke Army Medical Center in critical condition. He was not stable enough to be flown to University Hospital for further treatment.

However, later on Monday, the baby was transported to University Hospital, where he later died.

Previous incidents

In April, BCSO was dispatched to an off-leash dog shelter after a caller called 911 saying he was stuck in his car and needed help getting him out of the vehicle.

Salazar said the dogs were secured at that point, but Rodriguez was cited for failing to restrain them.

Dog attack investigation

Salazar said the baby’s parents knew Rodriguez had dogs that he described as “XL pits” but didn’t know they were problematic.

She is charged with causing serious bodily harm to a child by omission. She faces additional charges because the 13-year-old girl was injured in the attack.

Salazar called the girl a “hero” for her actions in response to the attack, which lasted about two minutes.

The animal protection authority has initially taken custody of the dogs. Salazar said Rodriguez didn’t want to give up the dogs, but BCSO intervened.

The sheriff said Rodriguez seemed more worried about the dogs than the baby and refused to make a statement to BCSO.

Child Protective Services is also investigating this case, not only because of the baby, but also because the 13-year-old girl was injured in the attack, according to Salazar.

Neighbor discusses dog attack

“Do you describe that feeling, you’re sitting in your car but you’re scared?” asked KSAT reporter John Paul Barajas.

“Yes, I was scared in my car; They barked a lot, very loudly, and they looked really vicious,” said an anonymous neighbor.

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