Authorities say seven family pit bulls were involved; investigators are reviewing the animals’ history and what happened before officers arrived.
TULLAHOMA, TN — A 50-year-old man and his 3-month-old granddaughter were found dead Wednesday afternoon after police say the family’s pit bulls attacked them inside a Tullahoma residence. Officers arrived around 3 p.m. on East Warren Street and killed several dogs to reach the victims, authorities said.
Officials identified the man as James Alexander Smith. The infant’s name has not been released. Coffee County District Attorney Craig Northcott said the investigation is focused on the exact cause and sequence of the deaths, including whether the mauling occurred before or after either victim died, and on any prior incidents involving the dogs or child welfare concerns. The case is being led by Tullahoma Police investigator Jessica Taylor and overseen by Police Chief Chase Sons and Deputy Chief Jason Kennedy. Additional dogs from the property were seized by Animal Control while detectives documented the scene and interviewed neighbors.
Police were dispatched shortly after 3 p.m. Wednesday to a report of a dog attack at a single-story home at 905 East Warren Street. According to authorities, officers entered and found Smith already deceased. Multiple pit bulls were “actively mauling” the infant when officers encountered them inside, and several dogs were shot to stop the attack and allow responders to reach the child. Paramedics pronounced both victims dead at the scene. Neighbors reported hearing screams and sirens in quick succession as emergency vehicles converged on the street. “The mother was in the road screaming ‘my baby’ when animal control pulled up,” neighbor Rebecca Adams said. “My heart just shattered.” Police said seven family pit bulls were involved. Officers secured the house while Animal Control and detectives processed the scene into the evening.
Northcott said his office is reviewing records related to the animals and the household. Investigators are gathering veterinary and Animal Control files, prior calls for service, and statements from residents and people familiar with the dogs’ behavior. Smith was identified on scene, and authorities said a formal cause of death will be determined through medical examination. Police Chief Sons described what responders encountered as a brutal and distressing scene for officers and medics. Neighbors told reporters the dogs had gotten loose before and had been seen chasing or attacking other pets, but they had not witnessed serious aggression toward people. One neighbor planned to report a recent incident involving a family pet, while others recalled chasing the dogs back into the yard on several occasions. The number of dogs seized after the shooting was not immediately released. Officials said decisions about any remaining animals will be made after the investigation.
The attack adds to a recent series of high-profile fatal dog maulings that have drawn scrutiny to animal control and ownership practices. In Tullahoma, the family kept multiple pit bulls in a residential neighborhood of small houses and narrow lots, where neighbors said managing seven large dogs was a constant challenge. The home on East Warren Street has been cited for unsafe conditions and was condemned after the incident, according to local authorities, leaving surviving family members to search for temporary housing while arranging burials. Tullahoma is a city of about 22,000 in Coffee County, roughly 75 miles southeast of Nashville. Police said they are working methodically through the evidence. Investigators are tracing how the dogs were confined, whether gates or doors were open, and if the animals had been involved in prior documented cases. They are also reviewing any earlier visits by child welfare officials to the residence, which Northcott said will factor into his charging decision if evidence supports one.
Legal and procedural steps will include autopsy findings to establish the manner and cause of death for both victims, ballistics and use-of-force review for the officers who shot several dogs, and case file assembly for the district attorney. Northcott said no charging decisions have been made and none should be expected until medical and forensic results arrive and witness interviews are complete. Police are also verifying who legally owned the dogs, how many were licensed, and whether vaccinations and registrations were current, which could affect potential violations. Tullahoma Police plan to brief the public again after laboratory reports are returned and after Animal Control determines the disposition of any surviving animals. If charges are filed, an initial appearance would be scheduled in Coffee County General Sessions Court. As of Saturday, Dec. 6, investigators had not announced a timeline for additional public statements.
Neighbors described a street in mourning. Some left flowers near the mailbox as traffic crawled by, drawn by word of the deaths. “Today has just been everybody driving by to see the house,” Adams said. “I guess they need proof that this really happened.” A father who lives across from the property said he had seen the dogs escape and chase cats and smaller dogs but had never expected an attack of this scale. Officers and firefighters rotated through the scene as dusk fell, talking quietly in the cold and checking on one another between duties. “The family and my officers are distraught,” Sons said. “It has shaken the entire neighborhood.” Animal Control workers loaded kennels into trucks while evidence technicians photographed rooms and collected samples for testing. By nightfall, crime scene tape still ringed the yard and a patrol unit idled out front.
As of late Saturday, the Coffee County District Attorney’s Office said the investigation is active and awaiting autopsy results. Officials plan to provide the next update after medical findings are returned and interviews are completed in the coming days.
Author note: Last updated December 6, 2025.