August 25, 2026 BROOKLYN, NY A Brooklyn text dispute turned into a violent street shooting last week, leaving a beloved family pet wounded and a 29-year-old gunman facing major felony charges.
Members of the NYPD Warrant Squad arrested Adrian Benitez at his residence Tuesday morning, ending a weeklong manhunt following the Aug. 19 discharge of firearms near Green-Wood Cemetery.
The incident unfolded at approximately 5:45 p.m. outside 218 31st St. in Sunset Park. Police sources reveal that Benitez rushed to the location after receiving a text message from his girlfriend stating that a man was following her. Upon arriving at the scene, Benitez allegedly spotted an individual standing near his partner, pulled out a handgun, and opened fire into the street.
The gunfire missed its intended target entirely. Instead, a stray bullet struck a 7-year-old female dog named Honey in the leg as she was being walked down the block by her owner.
Honey was rushed to an emergency veterinary clinic for immediate care and was later reported to be in stable condition.
Benitez fled the scene immediately following the discharge. Detectives tracked him down following a weeklong investigation, arresting him without incident at his home on Aug. 25.
Officers escorted a handcuffed Benitez out of the 72nd Precinct stationhouse Tuesday morning to face arraignment. He remained silent when questioned by reporters outside the station.
Benitez faces a heavy slate of criminal charges, including attempted murder, three counts of assault, criminal possession of a weapon, reckless endangerment, and aggravated cruelty to animals.
