A 71-year-old man was mauled to death by 7 dogs while walking to the store

A man has been arrested after his seven dogs mauled a 71-year-old man to death as he walked to a local convenience store.

The incident occurred July 18 in Fresno, Texas, when 71-year-old Freddie Garcia, a native of Fresno, was walking to a store in his neighborhood around 1:30 p.m. when the Fort Bend County Sheriff’s Office received a call from a witness reporting that the man was torn apart by seven dogs, authorities say.

Authorities responded to the scene and found Garcia, who was immediately transported by Life Flight to Memorial Hermann – a hospital in the downtown Houston area – and was later pronounced dead from injuries sustained during the attack.

According to a statement from the Fort Bend County Sheriff’s Office, four of the dogs were captured shortly after the injury, but three were on the loose for an undisclosed amount of time before being captured. All seven dogs were pit bull mixes, according to authorities, but the owner of the animal has not been identified at this time.

However, after an investigation by the Sheriff’s Office along with Fort Bend Animal Control and the Fort Bend County District Attorney’s Office, authorities on Friday were able to identify and arrest 47-year-old Samuel Cartwright in connection with Garcia’s fatal death.

Cartwright currently remains in custody at the Fort Bend County Jail and is charged with Attack by a Dog Resulting in Death – a second-degree felony – and police confirmed his bond was set at $100,000.

Meanwhile, Fort Bend Sheriff Eric Fagan says he’s thankful the dogs were taken off the streets and another potential attack was prevented.

“This devastating tragedy should not have happened. My deepest condolences go out to the Garcia family and his neighbors as they adjust to the loss of Mr. Garcia,” said Sheriff Fagan. “Special thanks to our deputies, Fort Bend Animal Services Director Rene Vasquez and Fort Bend District Attorney Brian Middleton for working together to capture the dogs and make the arrest.”

The death by injury investigation is ongoing.

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