Tragedy struck an Ohio family as seven-month-old Elizah Turner was mauled to death by one of her family's three pit bulls on Wednesday, April 9.
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According to Columbus Police Sgt. James Fuqua, who spoke with WBNS, the incident took place at a South Champion Avenue residence. There, baby Elizah was bitten by one of her parent's dogs, a pit bull. As per PEOPLE, body camera footage shows officers arriving at the scene at around 11:30 a.m. Minutes later, at 11:43 a.m., Elizah Turner was pronounced dead.
A Franklin County Coroner's Office spokesperson confirmed to PEOPLE that Elizah was first transported to a fire station. She was then rushed to Nationwide Children's Hospital, with a doctor declaring the infant dead shortly after arrival.
Meanwhile, Franklin Animal Control took custody of the three pit bulls at the Turner house. The agency is currently in charge of investigating the incident, according to Sgt. Fuqua.
"There is really not a lot of words I can say to convey how I feel and how the officers who arrived," Fuqua told WBSN. "Everyone in this process is literally grieving as if this child belonged to us because most of us are parents and can't imagine just how this scene is."
No further details surrounding the attack have been made public.
Family Grief
Elizah's parents, Kameron Turner and Mackenzie Copley, both addressed the tragic passing of their daughter on social media.
"I will never understand why!!!" Copley wrote on Facebook, as per the New York Post. She attached a picture of Elizah cuddling with their three dogs. "I am so lost and broken. This was the same dog who was side by side with my baby every single day," Copley added.
Kameron Turner also posted on Facebook, saying that "life is so not fair."
"All I want to say is please everyone who has babies hold them tight and never leave their side," Turner wrote, as per PEOPLE. "This pain is so unbearable."
In Elizah's obituary, she is described as a happy and spunky girl who loved watching Miss Rachel. She always had a smile on her face.
"She brought light to everyone's life, healed her family's hearts and gave them all purpose. Her favorite times were spent laughing with mom and dad," the obituary reads. "Every time someone new walked into the room her legs started kicking away because of how excited she was to see you. Elizah's face would light up the room and her laugh was contagious."
A GoFundMe was set up on behalf of the family. The fundraiser description states that McKenzie, Kameron, and Elizah had just moved to their new home in Columbus. All donations will cover Elizah's funeral and memorial costs, in addition to other family costs.
