April 23--A family dog mauled a 3-day-old baby boy to death Thursday night in Mira Mesa, according to the San Diego Police Department.
The dog was lying on a bed with the parents, who were watching TV, and the baby when the child's mother coughed. The dog was startled and unexpectedly attacked the baby, said San Diego Police Sgt. Tu Nguyen with the department's child abuse unit.
The parents drove to a nearby hospital where the newborn was pronounced dead.
"It's such a horrific, tragic incident they are going through," Nguyen said.
The mauling occurred around 8 p.m. in the 8300 block of Flanders Drive in Mira Mesa, he said.
The dog, a Staffordshire terrier, was taken into custody by the San Diego County Department of Animal Services.
ben.poston@latimes.com
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