Who was Demarcus 'Sam' McKenzie? Alabama man mauled so badly by dogs that cops thought he was shot dead
SKIPPERVILLE, ALABAMA: A man in Alabama has died after being attacked by a pack of dogs. Demarcus "Sam" McKenzie, 27, was found dead in the driveway of a Skipperville home by acquaintances on July 29. He was in such bad shape that the responding officers assumed he had been shot.
According to Dale County Sheriff Mason Bynum, surveillance footage shows McKenzie being attacked after leaving the house and attempting to run away from the dogs down the driveway. He said in the statement, "The victim began to run down the driveway as two to three more dogs joined in on the attack," as reported by NewsWeek.
Dogs overpowered the victim
At one point, five to six dogs are seen violently attacking and mauling the victim as he struggles to stand. After a few minutes, the dogs overpower the victim, and he appears to become incapacitate. It is unknown if the dogs' owners will be charged because they have not been identified.
'Family is experiencing loss'
The dogs used in the attack in Alabama have not yet been identified by breed. According to WTVY, the sheriff also stated that McKenzie would undergo an autopsy on Tuesday, which would shed more light on the circumstances surrounding the victim's passing. The victim has a tribute page that reads, "Brother Demarcus "Sam" D McKenzie's family is experiencing loss. A gift is a great way to provide support and share your sympathy. Show Brother Demarcus "Sam" D McKenzie's loved ones you are thinking of them with a thoughtful gift."
An average of 33 fatalities per year
According to statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), over 4 million people in the United States are bitten by dogs each year. According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, one out of every five dog bites necessitates medical attention. Dog attacks that result in death are extremely rare, but they do happen occasionally, especially when a child is the victim. Between 1999 and 2020, dog attacks in the US caused an average of 33 fatalities per year, according to the CDC.