Brooklyn gunman charged in shooting that wounded service dog released without bail

Adrian Benitez, 29, was arrested and charged following a shooting in Greenwood Heights, Brooklyn, on August 19. Benitez faces multiple felony charges, including attempted murder, assault, criminal possession of a weapon, reckless endangerment, and aggravated cruelty to animals.

According to law enforcement, the incident occurred during a dispute on 31st Street near Fifth Avenue. While the intended target was not hit, a stray .22 caliber bullet struck Honey, a seven-year-old Labradoodle service dog belonging to a woman with Down syndrome. The dog was treated at a local animal hospital and survived after doctors removed the bullet from her leg.

During his arraignment, Brooklyn Criminal Court Judge Janice Robinson declined to set bail despite a request from the Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office for $150,000. Benitez was released with a promise to return to court for his next hearing in three months.