A 45-year-old man from Texas, Jose “Eddie” Heriberto Padron Castillo, died on Sunday, October 12, 2025, after being attacked by his two pit bulls in the yard of his home in Bacliff, Texas. Neighbors reported hearing his cries for help during the attack, which occurred on the 400 block of Louisiana Avenue, according to the Galveston County Sheriff’s Office.
The incident began when Castillo attempted to stop his dogs from chasing a golf cart that passed by his house. Surveillance footage obtained by local media showed the golf cart driving past his residence in the coastal town before the attack started.
Neighbor Jesus Excontitta heard Castillo’s screams and rushed to help. Excontitta described hearing Castillo’s pleas for help as one of the dogs latched onto his arm. He remarked, “I can still hear his voice,” according to reports.
Excontitta attempted to help with a machete, trying to force the dogs to release Castillo. He managed to strike one dog on the face, which stopped its attack. However, the second dog resisted his efforts.
Despite breaking his first knife while trying to free Castillo from one dog, Excontitta continued his attempts to save his neighbor from the second dog. He reported repeatedly stabbing the remaining dog while Castillo continued to plead for help, but the dog would not release its grip.
Excontitta’s sister, Shaine Starrett, called 911 during the attack. She informed dispatchers that her brother had repeatedly stabbed the dog with both a machete and a butcher knife, but it continued its attack on Castillo.
The attack persisted until deputies from the Galveston County Sheriff’s Office arrived. Upon arrival, one dog was still latched onto Castillo’s arm. An officer discharged his firearm, hitting the dog to stop the attack and protect Castillo. The dog released Castillo and retreated to a corner of the yard.
The sheriff’s office emphasized that the deputies’ actions were to protect Castillo’s life and were not intended to harm the animal. Paramedics performed CPR while transporting Castillo to a local hospital, but he succumbed to his injuries.
Both dogs were taken by Galveston County Animal Control and were euthanized. The sheriff’s office confirmed previous calls about aggressive dogs in the area. Neighbors reported avoiding walking past Castillo’s home due to the dogs.
Despite complaints about aggressive dogs, Excontitta stated that the pit bulls had been well cared for by Castillo. He noted the dogs grew up with Castillo, were always fed properly, and expressed confusion over the attack.
Excontitta reflected on the loss of his neighbor, stating he saw Castillo daily and never expected such an incident. He described the experience as tragic and expressed sadness that their last conversation was their final one.
A GoFundMe campaign was launched to assist with Castillo’s funeral expenses. The fundraiser described him as a beloved father, son, brother, and friend known for his warm spirit and kindness. He is survived by three daughters, a grandson, his mother, and six siblings.
This incident occurred during a period with a high number of fatal dog attacks. According to Animals 24-7, nine pit bulls were responsible for killing four people in five days between October 8 and October 12, 2025, bringing the year’s total to 70 dog attack deaths, nearing the record of 75 in 2024. There were 52 confirmed deaths by pit bulls in 2025, approaching the record of 57 in 2023.
Three out of the four victims during that five-day period were killed by their own or their family’s pit bulls. Castillo’s death was part of this trend of owners being attacked by their own animals.
