Hollywood actor and R&B singer Tyrese Gibson has been arrested and charged with animal cruelty after one of his Cane Corso dogs allegedly mauled a neighbour’s pet to death in Atlanta.
The 46-year-old star, best known for playing Roman Pearce in the Fast & Furious franchise, turned himself in on Friday morning, October 4, at Fulton County Jail. He was officially booked around 6 a.m. and later released on a $20,000 bond.
According to police, the incident happened on September 18 in the Buckhead area of Atlanta while Tyrese was away from home. A neighbour’s Cavalier King Charles Spaniel was reportedly killed in the attack, with authorities linking one of Tyrese’s four Cane Corsos to the fatal mauling.
The actor had previously been warned multiple times about letting his dogs roam off-leash, officials said.
Following the tragedy, Tyrese rehomed all four of his dogs and, through his lawyer, expressed condolences to the family of the deceased pet. His attorney also stressed that Tyrese has been fully cooperating with investigators and will continue to do so until the case is resolved.
Police, however, maintain that his negligence directly led to the death of the smaller dog, with Captain Nicole Dwyer confirming that all four of Tyrese’s dogs are to be handed over to the authorities as part of the ongoing case.
The arrest has stirred reactions online, with many shocked that the star — who recently spoke publicly about taking a “mental health break” and even travelled to Dubai — is now facing legal troubles back home.
Tyrese, who rose to fame as a singer before becoming a Hollywood regular, has yet to personally address the case.
