A New York City bodybuilder has spoken after stopping a pit bull attack on a one-year-old. Kevin Richardson said he acted fast because the child’s screams were unbearable.

What happened outside the bank

First, the attack happened around 11:10 a.m. outside a Santander Bank. Video shows the boy’s mother begging for help as people punched and pulled at the dog. The pit bull, a 24-month-old named Disco Bubba, would not let go. Richardson stepped in and used a chokehold to force the dog to release.

🚨 Horrific: Pit bull mauls 1-year-old toddler near Union Square, NYC clamps onto his leg & won’t let go for over a minute. Mom & strangers fight to save him. Deep wound, but he’ll live! Owner grabs dog & walks away! NO CHARGES! 💔#pitbull #Attack pic.twitter.com/ay1PL5RQyB

— Aarnav Sharma✨️ (@sunilaarnav) December 24, 2025

Richardson explains his split-second choice

Next, Richardson described squeezing the dog’s neck to cut off blood flow. He said he pressed on both arteries and held tight. He admitted he feared it might not work. He said he considered he might need to kill the dog. However, the dog went limp, and he released the hold before it passed out.

Child treated as owner avoids charges

Also, the boy went to NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue with leg cuts and needed many stitches. Police said the bite started when the father lifted the child and the leg swung near the dog’s mouth. The dog’s owner faces no criminal charges, but the family is exploring legal steps to have the dog euthanized. Richardson then calmed the parents, checked on his son, and continued his walk.

Finally, many people praised Richardson online for his bravery. He said he simply did what he had to do to save a child.