Circus Lion Escapes, Kills Brazilian Boy

A lion cub displayed on top of a car to advertise a circus escaped and mauled a 4-year-old boy to death in the northeastern city of Tiangua, police said Monday.

The cub escaped Sunday afternoon when its rope leash broke. An animal handler with the Dallas Circus had been leading the animal by the leash on top of the car.

The lion ran into a video rental store where children were playing video games. Several children were able to run away, but the animal cornered Jose Vincius Silva in the store and bit him on the head.

The boy died at a hospital. The lion was handed over to federal environmental protection agents.