James L. Gibson, 68, killed in multiple-dog attack in Washington Park, Illinois
Police say the same pack bit a woman about two hours before James L. Gibson’s fatal attack; a new follow-up also documents conflicting police and county accounts over when Animal Services was notified.
Incident summary
Washington Park Police said officers were dispatched to the 2100 block of North 49th Street at about 10:44 p.m. Thursday after a report that a man had been bitten. Police said James L. Gibson, 68, of East St. Louis was taking a smoke break while working on a rental property when at least five dogs attacked, dragging him across the street and into a ditch. He died from extensive bite wounds. Responding officers encountered the dogs and shot several after they became aggressive, but the pack fled into a nearby wooded area. In an Aug. 29 KMOV/Gray follow-up, police said the same pack had bitten a woman about two hours before the fatal attack and that police requested St. Clair County Animal Services assistance for both 911 calls; county Animal Services told the station it did not learn of the incident until Friday afternoon. Ownership, breed, the woman’s injury severity, and final animal-control disposition remained unresolved in the reporting reviewed.
Washington Park Police said the death investigation was ongoing and that officers shot several dogs during the response before the pack fled. In an Aug. 29 follow-up, police said the same pack had bitten a woman about two hours earlier and that county Animal Services assistance was requested for both 911 calls; Animal Services told the station it did not learn of the incident until Friday afternoon. No owner citation, dangerous-dog finding, criminal charge or final impound/euthanasia disposition was established in the reporting reviewed.
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Police said the same pack bit a woman about two hours earlier and that county assistance was requested for both calls; Animal Services told the station it did not learn of the incident until Friday afternoon.
Open source ↗Primary record used by BiteDB
KSDK, citing a Washington Park Police Department press release, reported that officers were dispatched at about 10:44 p.m. after a report that a man had been bitten; the victim was found after an attack by multiple dogs and was pronounced dead at the scene.
Open original source ↗Additional sources
- Man dead after being attacked by multiple dogs in St. Clair County, police sayLocal reporting reproducing Washington Park Police release details · 2026-08-28
- ID of St. Clair County man mauled to death by dogs is releasedBelleville News-Democrat syndicated follow-up · 2026-08-28
- Neighbors feared pack of dogs before fatal attack in Washington ParkLocal television syndicated follow-up · 2026-08-28
- Man killed in fatal dog attack in Washington ParkLocal television syndicated breaking report · 2026-08-28
- Man dies after being attacked by multiple dogsKMOV / Gray News follow-up with Washington Park Police and St. Clair County Animal Services statements · 2026-08-29
- Belleville News-Democrat — longstanding Washington Park stray-dog contextLocal follow-up via AOL · 2026-08-31
What BiteDB does not infer
Breed is recorded only at the provenance level shown above. Missing injury details, dog history, ownership facts or circumstances remain unknown unless a reliable source establishes them. This record may be updated as police, animal-control, medical, court or follow-up reporting becomes available.