A 7-year-old boy was fatally attacked by a dog inside his home in Gunnison last week, city officials said.
When police arrived at the home last Wednesday, one officer fired a single shot to stop the attack, killing the dog, Gunnison City Manager Amanda Wilson said. A second officer then performed CPR on the child until paramedics arrived.
The attack has left a tight-knit Western Slope community reeling and Gunnison police remain tight-lipped as the investigation remains open, referring all questions to the city.
“This was a tragic incident that has been extremely difficult for the family, first responders and our community as a whole,” Wilson said. “The loss of a child in his home is a deeply private matter and the details are difficult to communicate and even harder to hear.”
Wilson declined to provide further details on the dog, including the dog’s breed.
Boy remembered for fierce love for family, “unapologetic silliness”
In the days since the attack, the Gunnison Valley community has rallied around the family, including the victim’s mother, Kirsten “Kirky” Swift, and to remember Leelan, a second grader with boundless energy who loved rainbows and pajama parties.
Swift described Leelan, in his obituary, as a “constant motion machine” and a boy who radiated joy.
“From the moment he woke up each morning, he made every day his best one,” she wrote. “He played hard, loved harder, and met the world at full volume. Loud, endlessly talkative, and always moving, Leelan carried an innocent, fearless joy that could not be contained.”
Leelan’s favorite word was “mama” and one he liked to repeat nearly 7,000 times a day — a reminder of the deep connection they shared, she said.
The boy’s father, Ben Lokie, who lives in Salt Lake City, Utah, remembered his son’s “unapologetic silliness,” curiosity and magic that let him live “in the wonder of each moment.” Leelan loved to be goofy with his sister and wrestle with his older brothers, whom he looked up to as role models.
Hundreds of thousands of dollars have poured into an online fundraising campaign in less than a week to support Swift, while a steady stream of neighbors are visiting and bringing food to the family, said Gary Pierson, a longtime family friend and dean of students at Western Colorado University.
Swift, a single mother and veterinary technician, shared a close bond with her sons, Leelan and Uriah, who also lived in the house, Pierson said. He declined to talk about the attack.
The community’s outpouring of support to help Swift serves a reminder of the valley’s commitment to each other, but also to Swift, who is known for her positivity and willingness to lend a helping hand, he said.
“People just care about her deeply because you know, you reap what you sow,” said Pierson, who met Swift in 2007, when she was 17 and in her first year at Western. “She planted a lot of deep seeds here.
“She’s super humble and she just lives her life, but she does it in a way that is full of love and care for other people.”
On Saturday, family and friends have planned a “pajama party” to honor Leelan’s life, encouraging all guests to wear their favorite pajamas and share their memories.
“It’s a bit of a double-edged sword because when we lose someone in our community, it cuts pretty deep, but it’s just amazing how people rise to the occasion to support each other,” Pierson said.
“We truly care about each other and the well-being of our community and even if it’s someone that people don’t know… the tide rises with these kinds of challenges.”
In early January, the Montrose Bully Breed Club posted a call for the adoption of a 3½ year old, 86-pound pit bull mix named Boaz. The dog was described by a Facebook group administrator as being “fantastic with children and adores everyone he meets. A true cuddlebug, he’ll shower you with kisses and affection.”
On Jan. 9, Swift posted in the group that she was interested in fostering the dog and a day later posted that Boaz, “our newest foster baby,” was in her home, with her two sons and a 6-year-old female French bulldog.
It is unclear whether Boaz was the dog that attacked Leelan.