A family pet pit bull attacked and killed a three-month-old boy in his home in New Jersey.

The incident occurred around 6:00 a.m. on March 9, 2024, at a residence located in the Avenel area of Woodbridge, Middlesex County, New Jersey. The baby, Daymon Jair Balbuena, was alone in his room when he started crying loudly.

According to family friends, by the time his cries were noticed, the family’s pit bull had already entered his room and was attacking him.

On hearing the commotion, 21-year-old Sierra Kelley, Daymon’s mother, tried to intervene but was also attacked by the dog. Daymon’s father, 27-year-old Henrylee Balbuena, attempted to help his wife and son, also sustaining injuries in the process.

An emergency call was received by Woodbridge Police at around 6:17 a.m. Upon reaching the scene, they found that Daymon Jair Balbuena had succumbed to his injuries.

The Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office, which is now handling the investigation, reported that the attack left the child’s mother with serious injuries, including cuts to her face, arms, and legs. The father was also treated for injuries, the details of which have not been specified. Both parents were later discharged from the hospital.

The pit bull responsible for the attack was euthanized by a veterinarian.

In response to this tragic event, a GoFundMe campaign was launched to support the Balbuena family. The campaign has so far raised over $15,000 to help cover the funeral expenses. The campaign organizer, Kayla Gil, stated, “As the Balbuena family navigates through this heartbreaking loss, we are asking our community to unite and extend their support.”

She continued, “In this incredibly challenging time, let’s show our collective compassion and solidarity.”

The funeral service for Daymon was conducted on Friday, March 15. His obituary remembers the brief but impactful love he brought to his family.

Within a span of less than a month, Daymon Jair Balbuena became the fifth child to die in dog attack incidents publicized in the US.

On February 16, 2024, two-week-old Brayden Heery Burwell was fatally attacked by the family’s husky in their Milford, Connecticut residence.

On February 26, 2024, four-year-old Beau Clark was killed by an Olde English Bulldogge pit bull mix belonging to a neighbor in Hartselle, Alabama.

On February 29, 2024, Duke Miller Whittington lost his life at his parents’ home, a former breeding kennel in Monroe Center, Illinois. He was believed to have been attacked by a Great Dane.

Two-year-old Mark Alan Partrain was killed by a neighbor’s husky and a German shepherd/golden retriever mix in New Hope, Alabama.