Owner of dog thrown off Crown Heights balcony calls for justice in 'best friend's' killing
Luis Santamaria raised his beloved dog Kith from a puppy and expected to have his best friend with him for many years to come.
The owner of a dog that was thrown off of a balcony in Crown Heights is calling for the man charged in his "best friend's" killing to be put behind bars.
Luis Santamaria raised his beloved dog Kith from a puppy and expected to have his best friend with him for many years to come.
"He was the sweetest dog, he would just say 'hi' to everyone. Had lots of energy," he said.
But Santamaria says he never got the chance.
Police say his dog was thrown off of his balcony down 14 floors to the entrance of his Crown Heights apartment by Alberto Morriss on Nov. 1.
Santamaria describes Morris as a friend who had gotten aggressive during a Halloween party in Williamsburg that the two attended.
"He started acting crazy, shoving people, he shoved me and my bag, and I didn't realize he took my keys off me," Santamaria said.
He says when he realized his keys were gone he rushed home, but arrived too late to stop Morris and found Kith laying dead on the ground.
The spot where he died is now decorated with hearts and his dog's name.
"I got tired of walking past his blood everyday, I wanted to have a good memory of him," he said. "I wish he [Morris] had just broken my TV or something, knowing Kith, he was probably just excited to see him and I know he must have been betrayed."
Morris was charged with aggravated cruelty to animals, and reckless endangerment in the second degree, according to police. Santamaria, however, says he believes Morris should be behind bars as he awaits trial.
The two statutes Morris was charged with are not bail-eligible in New York City.
"This man, put him behind bars because this was a crazy crime. You don't know what he could do to anybody at this point because if you could hurt a dog like that, you could hurt anybody," Santamaria said.
