{"id":2651424,"date":"2026-08-28T21:18:02","date_gmt":"2026-08-29T01:18:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/nyc-judge-frees-man-accused-of-shooting-service-dog-of-woman-with-down-syndrome-while-attempting-to-kill-man\/"},"modified":"2026-08-28T21:38:04","modified_gmt":"2026-08-29T01:38:04","slug":"nyc-judge-frees-man-accused-of-shooting-service-dog-of-woman-with-down-syndrome-while-attempting-to-kill-man","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/nyc-judge-frees-man-accused-of-shooting-service-dog-of-woman-with-down-syndrome-while-attempting-to-kill-man\/","title":{"rendered":"NYC Judge Frees Man Accused of Shooting Service Dog of Woman with Down Syndrome While Attempting to Kill Man"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">38<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fnyc-judge-frees-man-accused-of-shooting-service-dog-of-woman-with-down-syndrome-while-attempting-to-kill-man%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2651424&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>A Brooklyn judge released Adrian Benitez, a 29-year-old man charged with attempted murder and other offenses, after a stray bullet hit a service dog walking with a woman with Down syndrome. Despite prosecutors requesting $150,000 bail,Judge Janice Robinson granted only a promise to appear,and benitez is scheduled to return to court in November. The shooting occurred near Green-Wood Cemetery, where Benitez allegedly fired during an argument, unintentionally striking Honey, a 7-year-old Labradoodle and service dog for Teresa Pezzolla. Honey survived after veterinary treatment. Critics note that the judge has a pattern of releasing defendants without bail, reflecting political choices favoring low or no bail for risky individuals. The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/eight-men-arrested-on-suspicion-of-isis-ties-in-major-us-cities\/\" title=\"Eight men detained in major US cities for suspected ISIS connections\">incident highlights ongoing debates<\/a> about bail policies and public safety in new York City.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><br \/>\n<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC \"-\/\/W3C\/\/DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional\/\/EN\" \"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/TR\/REC-html40\/loose.dtd\"><br \/>\n<?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><html><body><\/p>\n<section> \t\t\t\t<script>console.log(\"ad slot (AC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC2)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC3)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC4)\")<\/script><\/p>\n<p>A Brooklyn judge freed a man charged with attempted murder after a stray bullet hit a service dog walking with a woman who has Down syndrome.<\/p>\n<p>Adrian Benitez, 29, was arraigned Tuesday on attempted murder, assault, weapons possession, reckless endangerment and aggravated cruelty to animals, the <a href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2026\/08\/26\/us-news\/notorious-bail-hating-nyc-judge-releases-gunman-charged-with-shooting-helpless-service-dog\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">New York Post<\/a> reported.<\/p>\n<p>Prosecutors had asked for bail to be set at $150,000, but Brooklyn Criminal Court Judge Janice Robinson released the suspect with only a promise to appear.<\/p>\n<p>Benitez is due back in court Nov. 24.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">Brooklyn Judge Janice Robinson sprung a man charged with attempted m*rder after a stray bullet tore into a Down syndrome woman\u2019s service dog.<\/p>\n<p>Adrian Benitez, 29, was arraigned Tuesday on attempted m*rder, as$ault, a weapons count, reckless endangerment, and aggravated cruelty to\u2026 <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/xHkZnhIdWq\">pic.twitter.com\/xHkZnhIdWq<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Blue Lives Matter (@bluelivesmtr) <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/bluelivesmtr\/status\/2093050918212165836?\">August 27, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.x.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>Police said the shooting happened about 5:45 p.m. on Aug. 19 near Green-Wood Cemetery in Greenwood Heights.<\/p>\n<p>Benitez allegedly pulled a handgun during an argument with a man who had been talking to a woman, the Post reported in its <a href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2026\/08\/25\/us-news\/ruthless-gunman-who-injured-adorable-service-dog-arrested-for-wild-shooting-on-nyc-street-cops\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">arrest story<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>The intended target was not hit.<\/p>\n<p>Instead, the round struck Honey, a 7-year-old Labradoodle.<\/p>\n<p>Honey is the service dog of Teresa Pezzolla, 64, who has Down syndrome.<\/p>\n<p>A veterinarian removed a .22-caliber bullet. The dog survived. Pezzolla\u2019s nephew told the Post he was grateful the shot missed his aunt.<\/p>\n<p>Benitez was arrested Tuesday morning. Court records cited by the Post said he had no prior unsealed arrests.<\/p>\n<p>Robinson was elected in 2024 after years as an insurance lawyer and was recently moved onto the criminal bench.<\/p>\n<p>In a review of 13 of her cases, the Post found eight defendants released with no bail \u2014 including two charged with attempted murder \u2014 and five given low bail.<\/p>\n<p>A law-enforcement source complained that the judge was treating dangerous thugs like shoplifters. \u201cDoes it have to be a child in a stroller next time?\u201d the source said.<\/p>\n<p>Soft-on-bail politics did not arrive by accident \u2014 New York voters put Robinson on that bench.<\/p>\n<p>City leaders spent years treating pretrial detention as the scandal and street shootings as the background noise.<\/p>\n<p>When a leftist judge cuts loose a defendant charged with attempted murder after a service dog takes the bullet, it is not a glitch. It is the system working as designed.<\/p>\n<p>Democracies get the officials they elect. Brooklyn elected this one.<\/p>\n<p>The next hearing is in November. Honey is recovering. The man accused of firing the shot is not in a cell.<\/p>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f7f7f7; color: #171717; display: flex;font-size: 16px;font-weight: 600;line-height: 1.5;margin: 24px 0;padding: 18px 20px 18px 30px;text-align: left;\">\n<div style=\"align-self: stretch;border-left: 3px solid #171717;flex-shrink: 0;padding-left: 20px;\"><\/div>\n<p><a style=\"text-decoration: none;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/preferences\/source?q=https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/\">Choose The Western Journal as your preferred source on Google and never miss reporting that defends truth, protects freedom, and advances Western civilization<\/a><\/div>\n<p style=\"border: 1px solid #f5f5f5; padding: 16px;\">Advertise with The Western Journal and reach millions of highly engaged readers, while supporting our work. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/advertise-us\/?wj_source=article\">Advertise Today<\/a>.<\/p>\n<div style=\"position: relative;\">\n<div class=\"ff-fancy-header-container\"> \t\t\t \t<\/div>\n<div class=\"entry-submit-correction inner-content\">\n<div class=\"correction-form\">\n<form style=\"display: none;\">\n<div class=\"sc-name-field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* Name<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"name\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"sc--field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* <\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<label>* Message<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t<textarea name=\"message\" required><\/textarea> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"required-message\" style=\"display: none; padding-bottom: 15px;\">* All fields are required.<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"submit\" value=\"Submit\" onclick=\"event.preventDefault(); firefly_sc();\"> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"firefly-sc-confirm\" style=\"display: none;\">Success!<\/div>\n<\/p><\/form>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p> \t\t<script> \t\t\tfunction firefly_sc() { \t\t\t\tif( typeof window.captchaPublicKey == typeof undefined ){ \t\t\t\t\tconsole.error('window.captchaPublicKey is not defined'); \t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\tgrecaptcha.execute( window.captchaPublicKey, { action: 'submit_correction' } ).then( function( token ) { \t\t\t\t\tvar opts = { \t\t\t\t\t\taction:    'firefly_sc_submit', \t\t\t\t\t\tname:      document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"name\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\t:     document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tmessage:   document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"message\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tpost_id:   firefly_post_id, \t\t\t\t\t\tcap_token: token \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\tvar inputs = [ 'name', '', 'message' ];  \t\t\t\t\tfor( var i = 0; i < inputs.length; i++ ) if( ! ( opts[inputs[i]] = document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"' + inputs[i] + '\"]' ).value ) ) { \t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .required-message' ).style.display = 'block'; \t\t\t\t\t\treturn; \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction input[type=\"submit\"]' ).style.display = 'none'; \t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-submitting-img' ).src = firefly_loading_gif_url; \t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-submitting-img' ).style.display = 'inline-block';  \t\t\t\t\tconsole.log( 'ma subbing' );  \t\t\t\t\tif( firefly_post_id ) opts['post_id'] = firefly_post_id;  \t\t\t\t\t\/* Send the data using post with element id name and name2*\/ \t\t\t\t\tvar posting = jQuery.post( firefly_ajax_url, opts );  \t\t\t\t\t\/* Alerts the results *\/ \t\t\t\t\tposting.done( function( response ) { \t\t\t\t\t\tif( response.success ) { \t\t\t\t\t\t\tconsole.log( response.data ); \t\t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-submitting-img' ).style.display = 'none'; \t\t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-confirm' ).style.display = 'block';  \t\t\t\t\t\t\tdataLayer.push( { 'event': 'submit-correction' } ); \t\t\t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\t\t}); \t\t\t\t}); \t\t\t} \t\t<\/script> \t     \t\t\t\t\t\t     \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t<script>console.log(\"ad slot (BA1)\")<\/script> \t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"ff-fancy-header-container\"> \t\t\t \t<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p><\/body><\/html><\/p>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Brooklyn judge releases man charged after stray bullet hits service dog of woman with Down syndrome<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2651425,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Service-dog-shot.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[80895,50433,7332,34726,4300],"class_list":["post-2651424","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-down-syndrome","tag-judge-2","tag-nyc","tag-service-dog","tag-shooting"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Service-dog-shot.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2651424","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2651424"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2651424\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2651435,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2651424\/revisions\/2651435"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2651425"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2651424"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2651424"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2651424"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}