Inset: Marco Antonio-Manuel De La Cruz (Harnett County Sheriff’s Office). Background: The area in Cameron, North Carolina, where De La Cruz allegedly killed his ex-girlfriend’s dog (Google Maps).
A 19-year-old man in North Carolina has been arrested after he allegedly killed his ex-girlfriend’s dog, “executing” the animal by shooting it multiple times “out of spite” and for “revenge” following a breakup with the dog’s owner. Marco Antonio-Manuel De La Cruz was taken into custody last week and charged with one count of felony cruelty to animals in connection with the alleged incident.
According to a probable cause affidavit filed in the Harnett County District Court, the shooting occurred on June 26 when De La Cruz was at his girlfriend’s home in the 400 block of Pine Oak Lane in Cameron, North Carolina, about a 65-mile drive southwest of Raleigh.
Investigators with the Harnett County Sheriff’s Office said that De La Cruz had “recently broken up with his girlfriend” and was “at the residence picking up his possessions.” The affidavit does not provide any information about the girlfriend or her family, other than to state that they had a dog named “Luna.”
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A witness told investigators that before shooting the animal, De La Cruz appeared “upset and angry.” The witness said they let “Luna” out of the house so the dog could relieve itself outside, which is when De La Cruz allegedly “picked up the dog and walked over to the left side of the front yard and shot the dog.”
“[De La Cruz] did pick up the family dog and shot the family dog ‘Luna’ several times (approximately four times) by pressing the barrel of his handgun (a gray in color semi-automatic) up against the dog’s rib cage and shot approximately four times, at close range, essentially executing the dog,” deputies wrote in the affidavit.
The witness also assured investigators that the dog “did not provoke nor attack” De La Cruz at any time. They added that just prior to the shooting, De La Cruz could be heard saying, “I am tired of this s—” and then firing.
After allegedly shooting the animal, authorities say De La Cruz picked it up and “carried the dog into the woods where he discarded the dog in a ditch.” A short while later, De La Cruz’s ex-girlfriend found the pet dead.
“The defendant maliciously killed the dog out of spite due to the fact that he wanted revenge on his girlfriend’s family,” the affidavit states.
De La Cruz was arrested on July 10, 2025, and processed at the Harnett County Jail, where he was being held in lieu of $50,000 bond. He posted that bond and was released on July 15.
Court records show that De La Cruz is scheduled to appear for a disposition hearing on the morning of July 29, 2025.
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