PINE BLUFF, AR — All he wanted to do was get his car fixed. Instead, a Pine Bluff man was attacked and killed by eight pit bulls at the garage where he had taken his car.

Family says Detrick Johnson not only was an uncle, a companion and a friendly man, but he was also innocent. Family wants Johnson not only to be remembered but also want his death to not have been in vain.

Amiki Johnson cannot hold back the emotion as she holds a photo of her brother.

“He was just trying to get his car fixed he didn’t deserve to die like that,” said Amiki.

Jefferson County Sheriff Deputies say Saturday morning Johnson went to CJS garage on Thomas Rd. to get his car fixed before work.
While outside, Johnson was killed by eight pit bulls who witnesses say crawled under the shop’s fence and attacked him.

“I dropped to the floor because I couldn’t believe it,” said Amiki.

Deputies along with Pine Bluff Police killed five of the dogs and the remaining three are being held at the Pine Bluff Animal Control Center.

“To me it was a senseless death,” said Johnson’s companion John Smith.

Smith was at the early morning scene. Smith was Johnson’s companion for 14 years and also the son of the of the garage owner CJ Smith.

“I think I was pretty much out of it then, and the only thing he(CJ) said is ‘Are you all right?’ And I said no’,” said Smith.

Deputies say they are working to prosecute CJ Smith. The dogs have a history of aggression and authorities say he was warned in the past.

“I would like justice to be served for my brother,” saidAmiki.

With justice, Amiki says she wants her big brother death to be remembered.

“It was always me and my brother and he’s always taken care of me,” said Johnson.

And Smith wants this attack to teach other dog owners to take precaution with their animals.

“Don’t nobody should have to die like that,” said Smith.

As for the dogs, Pine Bluff Animal Control officials says they are holding them until the prosecuting attorney’s office decides their fate.

For updates like Ken Buffa’s Facebook page here. Follow him on Twitter here.