dog attack
A 22-year-old man has died after four dogs he was caring for attacked him in the backyard of a home in the 5700 block of Halifax Avenue in Brooklyn Center on Thursday.

The Hennepin County medical examiner identified the man as Dezmond Ray Thomas Trawick.

Authorities say he was watching the dogs, which were identified as American pit bull terriers, at the house for a family member.


The Brooklyn Park Police Department gave the following details:

About 12:45 p.m., Thursday, a neighbor called 911 to report that a man being attacked by several dogs was yelling for help and couldn't get up off the ground during the mauling. When officers arrived, they shot a less-than-lethal round that struck at least one of the dogs and caused all four of them to disperse and return to the house.

Officers were then able to get to Trawick and provide first aid.

Trawick had extensive bites on most of his body and most of his clothes were torn off. He died Thursday night after undergoing surgery.

The dogs were quarantined pending further investigation.