Inset: Marco Antonio-Manuel De La Cruz (Harnett County Sheriff’s Office). Background: The location in Cameron, North Carolina, where De La Cruz is accused of killing his ex-girlfriend’s dog (Google Maps).
A 19-year-old man from North Carolina has been detained on accusations of killing his ex-girlfriend’s dog. The alleged act involved “executing” the pet by shooting it several times “out of spite” and “for revenge” after breaking up with the dog’s owner. Marco Antonio-Manuel De La Cruz was apprehended last week and faces a felony charge of cruelty to animals related to the alleged event.
A probable cause affidavit submitted in the Harnett County District Court reveals that the shooting happened on June 26 while De La Cruz was visiting his girlfriend’s residence on the 400 block of Pine Oak Lane in Cameron, North Carolina, approximately 65 miles 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.”
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.
