The horrifying incident of a man setting a pit bull on fire in Queens last week has finally come to a resolution with the arrest of Isaiah Gurley, 29. The arrest was made possible by an alert shopper at the Queens Center Mall who recognized Gurley wearing the same maroon POLO hoodie as seen in the video of the heinous act.
Gurley now faces multiple charges including reckless endangerment, aggravated cruelty to animals, torturing, injuring or not feeding an animal, and arson with intent to damage property. The shocking incident took place at 128 Street and 116 Avenue in South Ozone Park, where Gurley was captured on video dragging the helpless pit bull into the street under the cover of darkness. He callously poured an accelerant on the animal and left it to burn before fleeing the scene.
When authorities arrived, they found the poor dog lying motionless in the street, having succumbed to its injuries. It is yet to be determined whether the pit bull was already deceased before being set on fire or if it suffered a painful death due to the flames. A necropsy is currently being conducted to shed light on this heartbreaking aspect of the case.
It is unclear at this point whether the burned pit bull belonged to Gurley or if it was a stray animal. The NYPD is continuing its investigation to uncover more details about this disturbing incident. Gurley, who has a prior arrest for assault in Brooklyn in 2019, is now in custody awaiting further legal proceedings.
The arrest of Gurley brings some sense of justice to this tragic event, but it also serves as a reminder of the importance of speaking up against animal cruelty. The swift action of the shopper at the mall and the diligent work of law enforcement have ensured that Gurley is held accountable for his actions. Let us hope that this arrest will deter others from committing such despicable acts of violence against innocent animals.
