TAVARES, Fla. -- An alligator attacked and killed a 12-year-old boy in Lake County Wednesday.

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Alligator Attacks Lake County Boy Gator Trapper Talks About Recent Attacks

Brian Griffin was swimming with two other children about 10 feet from a dock in the Dead River Canal, witnesses said.

The other two children noticed the gator and jumped out of the water, trying to warn Griffin to come ashore, but it was too late, deputies said.

Shortly after 8 p.m., the approximately 10-foot-long alligator apparently dragged Griffin underwater for about 20 minutes.

"It took the boy, in his mouth, kind of parallel down the edge of the embankment," Lake County Sheriff's Office Lt. Mark Stauffer said.

Griffin was later spotted by helicopter floating in the water. Deputies were able to pull him from the canal, and he was transported to Leesburg Regional Medical Center. He died at approximately 9:30 p.m., officials said.

"I've seen them a few times. I've talked to them a couple times. I've told them not to be swimming in that water. Kids nowadays don't want to listen. It's a shame," witness Karl Fisher said.

A trapper shot and killed one alligator with blood around its mouth following Wednesday night's attack, but it's unclear if it's the one that killed Griffin.