Boy, 6, mauled to death by pit bull

UNION CITY, Calif., June 18 (UPI) -- A 6-year-old California boy was killed when his family's pit bull mauled him, police said.

The boy, identified as Nephi Selu, of Union City, north of San Jose, was playing in the backyard of his family's home Monday morning when the attack occurred. Union City Police Commander Ben Horner told the Bay Area News Group the child may have tried to climb on the dog's back.

The dog bit the boy on the top of his head. Paramedics rushed him to Lucile Packard Children's Hospital in Palo Alto, Calif., but he was pronounced dead shortly after arrival.