DETROIT - A private funeral Mass has been held for a 9-year-old Detroit girl who was killed by three dogs while she rode her bike.

The Detroit News reports that purple and pink flowers decorated the entrance at St. Cunegunda Church. Those were Emma Hernandez’s favouritecolours. Church bells could be heard throughout the neighbourhood Saturday.

A woman in the neighbourhood, Alicia Castillo, called it a “beautiful scene.”

Emma was attacked Monday while riding her bike in an alley near her home. The owner of the dogs, Pierre Cleveland, has been charged with second-degree murder and other crimes for failing to control the dogs. One dog was fatally shot during the attack.

Defence attorney Emmett Greenwood says Cleveland tried to get the pit bulls or pit bull mixes off Emma.