Mom: Next 72 hours critical for girl attacked by dogs

By Alexis Stevens

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

The next 72 hours are going to be critical for a DeKalb girl mauled by dogs, her mother told the AJC late Wednesday.

Erin Ingram, 8, has undergone two surgeries in two days. But, so far, everything looks good, said her mother Tawonna Ingram.

"She's a very strong little girl," Tawonna Ingram said Wednesday night.

Tuesday afternoon, one neighbor called 911 and another hit the dogs with an umbrella as the third-grader was being mauled by two dogs.

When a DeKalb County police officer arrived, he fought off the dogs with a baton.

Erin was in critical condition late Wednesday following the attack. She underwent emergency surgery Tuesday evening and again on Wednesday.

The dogs' owner, Twyann Artrell Vaughn, is expected to be charged, according to Officer Jason Gagnon. The investigation into the attack continues.

Erin, a student at Rock Chapel Elementary, was apparently playing outside Tuesday afternoon when she was approached by the dogs, police said. Neighbors told police the dogs lived a few houses away, on Margaret Court, off of Union Grove Road near Lithonia.

The first officer to the scene pulled out his baton to forcefully remove the dogs from the child, Gagnon said. The two dogs then began circling the officer, who pulled out his gun. One of the dogs, a mixed breed, ran toward its house, and the officer fired a gunshot, killing the other dog, an American Staffordshire Terrier, Gagnon said.

The dog that ran was later captured by animal control officials in the garage of his owner's home, according to the incident report. It has been euthanized.

"The garage door had been left open, and apparently the two animals were inside the garage," the report states. "There were no leashes, ropes, fences or any restraints that would have prevented the animals from walking freely throughout the area."

Neighbors told police they saw Vaughn drive onto the street in a U-Haul truck and then turn around and drive away, the report states. The truck and Vaughn were later located at a home about a mile away, police said.

Vaughn has cooperated with police and is remorseful, Gagnon said.

Ingram was taken to Children's Healthcare of Atlanta at Egleston. Her mother and father plan to stay with her at the hospital, Tawonna Ingram said.

"We want everyone to continue to pray for her," Tawonna Ingram said.