DUNN, N.C., Jan. 14 (UPI) -- A 3-year-old found dead in a neighbor's yard in Dunn, N.C., was killed by a pit bull terrier mix chained in the yard, police said Wednesday.
"The initial investigation appears to indicate that the child wandered into the reach of the dog that was chained," the Harnett County Sheriff's Office said in a statement. "The dog attacked the child, killing the child."
Nathan Ray Hill was found by a deputy after he had been missing for two hours Tuesday night, close to the chained dog next door to his home, the Dunn Daily Record reported.
The statement from the Harnett County Sheriff's Department said the deputy shot the dog after it kept him from reaching the boy's body.
Investigators have questioned Johnny Copley, the dog's owner.
Court records indicate Copley is on probation for possession with intent to sell and deliver cocaine and percocet. He has pending court dates for trafficking oxycodeine by possession and possession of cocaine and marijuana, the Daily Record said.
