Luis Gabriel Santamaria, 27, is mourning the loss of his beloved two-year-old pit bull, Kith, after an alleged violent act by his neighbor, 33-year-old Alberto Morris.
The heartbreaking incident occurred on November 1, around 5 a.m., when Santamaria found Kith dead on the sidewalk.
Santamaria recounted to The New York Post how a heated argument with Morris, a recent acquaintance, escalated into tragedy. “I had him since he was a baby, since he was one month old.
He was literally my best friend,” Santamaria said. “I never would have thought he would do what he did—murder my dog for no reason.”
Santamaria and Morris had bonded over their shared Panamanian heritage just weeks prior. However, the friendship took a dark turn as Morris began displaying obsessive behavior.
According to Santamaria, Morris would send unusual text messages, show up at his home uninvited, and ring his doorbell for hours.
On Halloween night, the two attended a party in Williamsburg. Santamaria described Morris becoming increasingly drunk and aggressive. “At one point, he grabbed my bag and ripped it off my body.
We were shoving each other. I didn’t know what was going on, and without me noticing, he grabbed my keys from my bag,” Santamaria explained.
After taking an Uber home, Santamaria arrived to the devastating scene. Morris had allegedly used the stolen keys to enter his home and kill Kith.
The Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office has charged Morris with multiple offenses, including aggravated cruelty to animals, grand larceny, criminal possession of stolen property, and criminal mischief.
Despite these charges, Morris was released following his arraignment due to New York’s bail reform laws, which deem these charges non-bail eligible.
“He has no prior arrests and was released following an arraignment earlier this week,” the Post reported. Under current state law, Morris cannot be held in custody unless convicted.
Santamaria expressed his frustration and fear over Morris’ release. “I have PTSD from this thing,” he said. “I still walk around these streets turning my head because I don’t know what this man can do.”
He added, “I’m really curious as to why he’s a free man after he did what he did. I don’t think any kind of murderer should be left anywhere outside of jail.”
If convicted, Morris faces a maximum sentence of two years in prison for the charges. Santamaria, however, remains skeptical about whether justice will be served.
The tragic death of Kith has sparked outrage among local animal rights advocates and community members. Many are questioning the adequacy of current laws to address acts of violence, particularly those involving animals.
Santamaria’s heartbreak underscores the need for stronger measures to protect both people and their pets from acts of cruelty. For now, he continues to grieve the loss of his “best friend” and grapple with the fear of living near someone capable of such violence.