Bloody pit bull attack started with friend's seizure

Stephanie Ingersoll | Clarksville Leaf-Chronicle

Show Caption Hide Caption Family attacked by their pit bull planning to leave Clarksville Blue is being held at the Montgomery County Animal Control Shelter as authorities look into attack that seriously hurt four people.

The owners of a pit bull that attacked four people at a Clarksville mobile home park Monday said he was a good natured dog that was only trying to protect a friend who was having a seizure.

What happened next left four people with severe dog bites, leaving the dog's fate in question and the residents' possessions out on the street as they returned from the hospital Tuesday morning, they said.

Clarksville Police were called to the mobile home park at 203 Riley Road just after noon Monday. At first, because of the nature and severity of the injuries, the incident was reported as a shooting in progress. But it soon became clear that a dog and not bullets caused the bloodshed.

Related: 4 people hurt in dog attack on Riley Road in Clarksville

"I'm really, really hurt," said Keelah Allen as she sat outside the home in a car Tuesday with bandages covering her arms. "My thumb was almost bitten off. There are several holes in my arm. I can't move my fingers."

She was trying to keep warm as the family waited for a U-Haul. Their possessions and other dogs were put outside.

Dog broke out of cage

Her husband, Marcus Allen, said his 1-and-a-half-year-old pit bull, Blue, was caged inside the mobile home when his friend, John Brown, had a seizure. Blue became agitated and broke out of his cage. Allen thinks this was to protect Brown, because Blue was used to helping when Keelah Allen had seizures.

But instead of helping Brown, Blue encountered Keelah Allen and bit her, said Shantil Allen, one of three siblings who lived there, along with her sister-in-law.

"He only did that because he was protective," Shantil Allen said. "He thought she was doing something to (Brown)."

Brown was also bitten in the leg.

As Marcus Allen tried to pull the massive dog off, he was bitten.

"He took four chunks out of my arm," Marcus Allen said, showing swollen fingers peeking out from the bandages and a sweatshirt.

Marcus Allen yelled for help. When his brother, Dominque Allen, tried to stop the dog, Blue attacked him, biting his neck, nose and arm.

"Dominique had the most injuries wrestling (Blue) off Marcus," Shantil Allen said.

Marcus Allen was knocked out a window during the struggle and hit the pavement on the road outside.

Shantil Allen could hear screaming from the bathroom.

"I ran back out and saw Blue on top of Dominique," she said, recalling her fear for her brother. "He charged at me, but his cage was blocking the way."

As Marcus Brown tried to get up and get back inside the house, Shantil Allen called to Blue again to distract him.

"I told Dominique to run out the door," she said. "When he ran out the door, he collapsed on the street."

Shantil Allen then ran out the back door.

"That's when the ambulances came," she said.

Family thought dog was killed at scene

Another friend got Blue on a leash, but when police and other first responders arrived, he became agressive again, and although Montgomery County Animal Control officers got a noose attached to a pole around Blue's neck, they couldn't get close to him as he continued to struggle, Shantil Allen said.

According to a Clarksville Police Department news release, animal control took the dog away, but there were no other details. The Allens thought Blue died by being strangled in the cords.

But Montgomery County Animal Control Director Dave Kaske said Blue "is very much alive," and being kept at the shelter until they speak to the owners and complete an investigation.

He said it took three animal control officers to get Blue and that, in his 25 years in the business, it's the only time he can recall one dog biting so many people in one incident. Whether Blue will be put down remains to be determined.

The siblings were split on whether Blue deserves to die.

Despite being in severe pain Tuesday, Marcus Allen said he would like to give Blue another chance.

Although Shantil loves Blue, she said he may need to be put down.

"I'd rather have him gone than one of my family members," she said.

The family had been in an ongoing dispute with their landlord and said they'd been planning to move out before they were evicted. According to court records, they were scheduled to appear in General Sessions Civil Court on Wednesday. But they said there was a written note on their door and their property was put out on the street Tuesday.

They have lived in Clarksville for two years but decided now is the time to move back to Atlanta.

The two brothers, sister and Marcus Allen's wife won't be going alone. They have another pit bull, Whitey, and Blue's two puppies, Coco and Cinnamon.

Reach Reporter Stephanie Ingersoll at singersoll@theleafchronicle.com or 931-245-0267 and on Twitter @StephLeaf