Gabriel Barron: Dogs brutally maul teen, 16, to death while he was fishing

A community has been left shattered after a 16-year-old boy was mauled to death by a group of dogs while he was fishing.

It is understood that Gabriel Barron had been fishing in a private pond on his family’s Daleville, Alabama property when the awful incident unfolded on February 19.

Six bulldogs believed to be owned by Gabriel’s neighbour suddenly began to attack him, leaving him with injuries so severe that he was pronounced dead at the scene.

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According to WDHN, 42-year-old Thomas Sutton, Gabriel’s neighbour, was arrested by Dale County police days later on February 22.

Although police confirmed that Mr Sutton owns the dogs involved in the attack, he was charged with drug possession and the possession of drug paraphernalia.

Police say the investigation into Gabriel’s death is ongoing and it is possible that charges related to the attack will be laid.

Tributes are flowing for the teenager, who according to an obituary published by Fuqua Bankston Funeral Home, had a “big heart”.

“Gabriel had a big heart and a gentle way about him. He was the kind of person who could make others laugh without trying, and he had a natural warmth that made people feel comfortable around him,” the obituary said.

“His family and friends meant everything to him, and he carried those connections close.”

Gabriel loved the outdoors and fishing was one of his favourite pastimes because he “enjoyed the simple peace of being near the water”.

Before his death, Gabriel’s family had already suffered significant loss. He lost his brother Josh Bushey and sister Dana Nevaeh Allen.

This comes after a woman was mauled to death by a stray dog after she tried to defend her own pet from harm.

Police found Barbara Brewington, 38, dead in the backyard of her North Carolina home on November 23.

The mother of three was left with horrific injuries after she was brutally attacked by a mixed breed stray dog that she had been looking after since May.

Jimmy Thornton, a Sampson county sheriff, said Ms Brewington also had her own smaller pet dog “and for some reason or another, the little dog got out”.

At the time of the attack she had been home alone.

“She was trying to separate the stray dog from her pet. And apparently the dog got overly aggressive and attacked her,” Mr Thornton told People.

Ms Brewington had managed to save her small dog and get it inside her house, but tragically she was so severely injured that she died at the scene.

The stray dog was euthanised at the North Peavine Road home later that day.