A 45-year-old man from Texas died on Sunday, October 12, after being attacked by his two pit bulls in his yard in Bacliff, Texas. Neighbors reported hearing his cries for help during the incident. Jose “Eddie” Heriberto Padron Castillo was attacked at his home on the 400 block of Louisiana Avenue, according to the Galveston County Sheriff’s Office.

The attack started when Castillo attempted to stop his dogs from chasing a passing golf cart. Surveillance footage obtained by local media showed the golf cart driving past Castillo’s residence in the coastal town before the dogs turned on their owner.

Neighbor Jesus Excontitta heard Castillo’s calls for help and intervened. Excontitta reported hearing Castillo screaming as one of the dogs latched onto his arm. Excontitta said: “I can still hear his voice.”

Excontitta rushed to assist with a machete, attempting to force the dogs to release Castillo. He managed to strike one dog across the face, causing it to stop its attack. However, the second dog resisted his efforts.

Excontitta broke a knife while trying to free Castillo from the first dog, but continued working to fend off the second one. He repeatedly stabbed the dog while Castillo continued to cry for help, but the dog did not release its grip.

Excontitta’s sister, Shaine Starrett, called 911 during the attack. She reported that her brother had stabbed the dog several times with both a machete and a butcher knife, but the animal continued its assault on Castillo.

The attack persisted until Galveston County Sheriff’s deputies arrived. Upon reaching the scene, one dog was still latched onto Castillo’s arm. A deputy fired a weapon to stop the attack, causing the dog to release Castillo and retreat.

The sheriff’s office emphasized that deputies aim to avoid harming animals, but urgent action was necessary to protect Castillo. Paramedics administered CPR while transporting him to a local hospital, where he later died from his injuries.

The dogs were taken by Galveston County Animal Control and subsequently euthanized. The sheriff’s office confirmed that there had been prior calls to the area about aggressive dogs. Multiple neighbors reported avoiding the area near Castillo’s home because of the dogs.

Despite previous reports of aggressive behavior, Excontitta stated that the pit bulls were well cared for by Castillo, noting they were raised by him and were always well-fed. He expressed confusion over the attack.

Excontitta reflected on Castillo’s death, noting that he was a familiar face and never expected such an incident to occur. He described the experience as devastating and expressed sorrow that their last interaction was their final one.

A GoFundMe campaign was created to assist with Castillo’s funeral expenses. The fundraiser described him as a cherished father, son, brother, and friend, recognized for his warm spirit and kindness. He is survived by three daughters, a grandson, his mother, and six siblings.

This incident occurred amid a particularly deadly period for dog attacks in the nation. According to Animals 24-7, nine pit bulls killed four individuals from October 8 to October 12, 2025, raising the year’s total dog attack death toll to 70, nearing the record of 75 set in 2024. The organization reported 52 confirmed deaths by pit bulls in 2025, close to the record of 57 set in 2023.

Three of the four victims during that five-day period were killed by their own or family-owned pit bulls. Castillo’s death was part of this trend.