Man Sliced in Machete Attack While Shielding Pit Bull from Threat

2 Min Read

A Bronx man is recovering after losing four of his fingers in a horrific attack while trying to protect his pit bull.

Advertisement · Scroll to continue

Rakeem Young, 34, was walking his 4-year-old dog, Chanel, on Friday, January 24, near Southern Blvd. and E. 178th St. in East Tremont, when a man with a machete suddenly confronted him.

The suspect, who was walking an unleashed dog, allegedly threatened to decapitate Chanel. Young, in an instinctive move to protect his dog, raised his hand to shield her.

But the attacker swung a machete at Young, severing four of his fingers in the process.

“I couldn’t believe it,” Young told ABC 7. “It wasn’t even painful at first, maybe because of the adrenaline.”

Advertisement · Scroll to continue

As the attack continued, Chanel bravely defended her owner by biting the attacker, which allowed Young to escape. However, when he looked down, he saw his fingers had been completely sliced off.

Man Sliced in Machete Attack While Shielding Pit Bull from Threat

READ ALSO: Husband Confesses to Killing and Cooking Wife, But Police Let Him Go Due to Lack of Evidence

Man Sliced in Machete Attack While Shielding Pit Bull from Threat

Emergency personnel recovered three of the severed fingers, and Young underwent a 13-hour surgery to reattach them. Sadly, his missing index finger could not be found.

Young’s family has started a GoFundMe to raise funds for his ongoing medical care, as he may need further surgeries to ensure proper healing.

The suspect, described as a man in his 40s or 50s, is still on the loose, and police are working to identify him. As the investigation continues, Young’s family is worried about the possibility of further threats from the attacker.

“We don’t know if he’ll come back,” said Young’s aunt, Tashemia. “He’s out there with a machete.”

Young, still shaken by the attack, said that if he hadn’t protected Chanel, he would have been tormented for the rest of his life. “If he had killed my dog, it would have broke me,” he said.

Visit our Latest World News Page for global updates. Follow our Website: On WhatsApp || Twitter || Facebook || Telegram || Pinterest || Tiktok || YouTube || Google News ||

Advertisement · Scroll to continue