Tyrese Gibson is under increasing scrutiny after his Cane Corso mastiffs attacked and killed a neighbor’s Cavalier King Charles Spaniel in Buckhead, Georgia—and an arrest warrant for animal cruelty has reportedly been issued after he allegedly missed the deadline to turn himself in.
The incident unfolded on September 18 when the spaniel’s owner let the dog out into the yard and returned shortly thereafter to find the pet fatally wounded. The victim, a small lap dog protected by an invisible fence, was rushed to a veterinary hospital but did not survive. Neighbors say Gibson’s mastiffs had been roaming freely through the neighborhood in the days leading up to the attack.
Once authorities learned of the fatal mauling, Fulton County animal services sought to hold Gibson accountable. They had previously responded to several complaints about his dogs escaping, and after the latest incident, officers were granted a search warrant for Gibson’s property on September 22. By that time, neither he nor the dogs were present. An arrest warrant followed shortly afterward.
Gibson was instructed to surrender himself by a set date. Instead of complying, he reportedly posted online that he was taking a mental health break and would return in November. As of now, he has not turned himself in. Fulton County police have voiced concerns about the safety implications, pointing out that large dogs, when loose, pose a serious danger—not just to other pets but potentially to people.
Through his attorney, Gibson expressed deep sorrow for the loss, stating that the dogs have since been rehomed and that he is cooperating with authorities to resolve the matter. He also affirmed that the attack happened while he was away from his home and that prior to this he believed his animals were under control.
Neighbors, however, paint a different picture. They describe prior warnings and sightings of the mastiffs roaming at odd hours. Some say footage from doorbell cameras show the dogs scratching at doors across the street just before the fatal encounter. The victim’s owner, devastated by his loss, has called Gibson’s response and delayed compliance a betrayal.
With the warrant in hand and no surrender made, law enforcement faces pressure to make a move. The case now hinges on whether Gibson will step forward—or be compelled to by force—and whether further consequences follow from what many see as a preventable tragedy in a quiet neighborhood.
