Ving Rhames' Dogs Maul Man to Death

Posted Aug 3rd 2007 2:07PM by TMZ Staff

LAPD tells TMZ that "Mission Impossible" star Ving Rhames' dogs have mauled and killed a man who worked for the actor.

Cops tell TMZ the victim worked as a caretaker for Rhames, watching over the dogs and his home. The four dogs, including Mastiffs and an English Bulldog, have been taken into custody by Animal Control. When LAPD received the call this morning at 7:15, they say they found a 40-year-old black male on the front lawn, deceased.

Calls to Ving's reps were not immediately returned, and the actor, apparently, is out of the country shooting a movie.
KABC is reporting that the body of the caretaker had bites all over his body. And police tell us they've never gone out to the house for an incident related to the dogs before.

Story developing ...

Filed under: Celebrity Justice

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(Page 5 of 24)Previous 15 Comments | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | Most Recent | Next 15 Comments

61. I would trust my dog with my life. She is a service dog. I couldn't get by without her love and help. Dogs can be good co workers with us. They can also be victims of our missuse and abuse.

Posted at 2:59PM on Aug 3rd 2007 by Golden retriever's mom

62. It is very much Ving's fault, because he does not spay and neuter his animals. It's common knowledge that being unaltered makes animals more aggressive, in addition to making them unhealthy and shortening their lifes. And the pet overpopulation is a BIG problem.

Posted at 3:01PM on Aug 3rd 2007 by csosu

63. The story actually says they don't know exactly what killed the man. Yes, he had bites on him, but is that what killed him? Tragic anyway...but we can't assume this is Mr Rhames doing, nobody has said anything about him purposely training the dogs to be vicious. Yet.

Posted at 3:02PM on Aug 3rd 2007 by Donna

64. Kill the stupid dogs!!!!!! Punish the owner!

Posted at 3:02PM on Aug 3rd 2007 by Britney The desperate ho

65. Common sense people common sense....

If it was only that easy.
The people who hurt dogs and train them to be attack dogs should be locked up!
Why is it when a dog attacks someone the dog is at fault and put to death but when a human attacks a child its chalked up to well it only happened once.Give me a break some people should not have animals at all. I feel bad for the guy but feel real bad for the dogs.

Posted at 3:03PM on Aug 3rd 2007 by MEAT IS MURDER

66. The saddest part of this whole thing is they will kill the dogs!

Posted at 3:05PM on Aug 3rd 2007 by Not Cool

67. Thank you for posting the facts, PhaQ!!

Mastiffs have never been bred for killing - only to protect. They were bred to keep the poachers off of their masters property. Unless provoked, these animals are very mild mannered, easy going and even tempered. I will agree that these dogs need attention and training, but it is not fair to call them "vicious animals" just because of their size. Know the dog before you make generalized statements!

Posted at 3:06PM on Aug 3rd 2007 by SAP

68. I feel bad for the dogs...............They should given to Quarterback Vick......For the proper training ........

Posted at 3:06PM on Aug 3rd 2007 by Larry

69. Get off the race stuff. this is about dogs and how humans misshandle them. We are the owners. we are responsible for what happens. You are responsible if you have a gun in your house too. Take responsibility people.

Posted at 3:09PM on Aug 3rd 2007 by Tori

70. It's not the breed, it's the owner. I'm soooo sick of hearing how bad pit bulls and other (vicious) dogs are. My family had pit bulls and boxers most of my childhood and NOT A ONE EVER HURT ANYONE!! And no we did not have big egos or anything to hide.

Posted at 3:09PM on Aug 3rd 2007 by TE in SP

71. (The saddest part of this whole thing is they will kill the dogs!)

I second that! Those poor babies :o(

Posted at 3:12PM on Aug 3rd 2007 by MEAT IS MURDER

72. Okay-why does TMZ have the headline "Dogs Maul Man" when at the end of the blog you guys state that it is unknown if he had a heart attack or something natural. The bites, just as vicious, could have happened after death. Just a thought.

Posted at 3:12PM on Aug 3rd 2007 by Bow Wow

73. OMG here goes another race thing. Keep it cool people. We don't need this stuff.

Posted at 3:12PM on Aug 3rd 2007 by Tori

74. Didn't anyone read the article carefully? The police are investigating whether the man suffered a heart attack or died some other way BEFORE the dogs bit him. And the victim WAS the caretaker of the dogs.
Just wait until the whole story is told before drawing comparisons to Michael Vick (a VERY different situation entirely).

Posted at 3:13PM on Aug 3rd 2007 by historiadora

75. Nancy Drew. what is it about my statement that you object to? #92

Posted at 3:15PM on Aug 3rd 2007 by Tori

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