A 12-year-old boy in California drowned in a lake while attempting to escape a vicious dog attack, leaving his family and community devastated. Fernando Torres Moreno was at Central Park with friends on June 11 when a group of dogs, brought to the park by a local resident, began an assault.
Fernando was found motionless in the park's pond after jumping into the water to flee the aggressive animals. Emergency services responded to the scene shortly after 6 p.m. Despite attempts to resuscitate him at Adventist Health Hospital in Tehachapi and later at Children's Hospital, he succumbed to his injuries on June 19.
Another child present at the park was also attacked by the dogs and sustained significant, but not life-threatening, injuries. The owner of the dogs was identified as 68-year-old Kenneth Dobbins. Police have stated that Dobbins and his dogs have since disappeared from the area, and a search is underway to locate him.
According to Mayor Marquette Hawkins, the dogs were mixed breed and were off-leash at the time of the incident, despite their owner being present. The location of the attack, a children's play area, has raised questions within the community, as a large, designated dog park exists on the other side of Central Park. Diaz, a local bus driver who knew Fernando and his family, expressed confusion and concern over why Dobbins was in the children's area with his dogs.
Dobbins is described as a transient with loose ties to California City and Palmdale. He is approximately 6'6" tall, weighs around 250 pounds, and has gray hair and brown eyes. Law enforcement has reported that one of the animals involved was later seized in Los Angeles County.
Fernando was remembered by friends and community members as a joyful child with a radiant smile and infectious laugh. Sunshine Diaz, a bus driver who had known Fernando throughout her career, described him as a "happy kid" who loved spending time outdoors and possessed a great sense of humor. He was known for standing up for his siblings and friends and was considered a loyal companion.
A candlelight vigil was held for Fernando, drawing approximately 150 community members, including Mayor Hawkins. The event, organized by Diaz and her daughter, was a somber gathering where attendees released balloons and placed flowers by the lake where Fernando was found. The family of the injured young girl also attended, offering support to Fernando's grieving parents.
Valerie Batres, a parent of one of Fernando's friends, shared her heartbreak, writing on Facebook that "no parent should ever have to bury their child." She extended her prayers to Fernando's family, friends, and all those affected by the tragedy.
The incident has been deeply felt by the California City community, described by Diaz as "very eye-opening" and "devastating." The GoFundMe created for Fernando's family aims to provide financial support during this difficult time.