Pit Bull Attack Kills Carter County Man

Gan Matthews, News9.com

ARDMORE, OKLAHOMA -- Carter County authorities said an Ardmore man was killed after being mauled by a pit bull.

Neighbors said 50-year-old Virgil Cantrell often visited the home of Rick Grant south of Ardmore and was on good terms with the Grants' pit bull Ike.

But Friday night while Cantrell was sitting on the Grants' front porch, the dog unexpectedly attacked him.

Carter County Deputy Eric Grisham arrived at the scene and tried to help the victim.

"The dig became vicious toward myself and the medical personnel," Grisham said. "At that time I had to fire two rounds and put the dog down."

An ambulance tried to get Cantrell to a Dallas hospital, but he died en route.

The District Attorney is considering whether to file felony charges of harboring a dangerous animal against the dog's owners, Rick and Lisa Grant.