(WXYZ) — The man facing charges in a deadly dog mauling of a 9-year-old Detroit girl will be in court on Wednesday for a preliminary hearing.
Pierre Cleveland, 33, has been charged second degree murder, involuntary manslaughter and having a dangerous animal causing death. He will be in court at 1:30 p.m.
Cleveland was originally given a $2 million bond with no 10 percent, but that was eventually lowered and he was able to post bond.
Family members say 9-year-old Emma Hernandez was riding her bike when she was mauled and killed by a pack of dogs.
If that wasn’t bad enough, Emma’s 12-year-old brother was among those running toward the commotion leading to him witnessing the aftermath.
Police tell 7 Action News that the girl was attacked near Central Avenue and Smart Street.
Family explained that she frequently rode her bike up and down the street, and was likely trying to turn around in the alley when she was attacked. Emma was knocked off her bike, mauled and killed.
One neighbor explained that she tried to help perform CPR, while the girl’s father tried to help. She ran to help because she heard the commotion.
“Mind you I live all the way over there,” said Deborah Gordon, motioning to a block away. “You’re talking about a 9-year-old girl who was just out there playing, and now she’s not here.”
A number of family members live nearby, they told 7 Action News that they’re struggling to understand how this happened. However, they noted that the dogs that attacked the girl were frequently roaming in the neighborhood. The girl’s father reportedly had spoke with the owner of the dogs the same week.
People in the neighborhood noted that police had been called in the past.
