Tyrese Gibson turned himself in to Atlanta police last Friday (Oct. 3) after his dogs were allegedly involved in a fatal attack that left a neighbor’s small dog dead. It has now also been revealed that his grandmother was briefly detained during the investigation.
According to Fulton County court records, an arrest warrant for the R&B singer was issued on Sept. 22. Bodycam footage obtained by TMZ captured officers conducting a search of Gibson’s property that same day, during which his grandmother was temporarily placed in the back of a police vehicle.
Gibson was charged with cruelty to animals, taken into custody, and later released on a $20,000 bond.
The incident occurred on Sept. 18, when Gibson’s four Cane Corso dogs were reportedly seen roaming his Atlanta neighborhood before allegedly fatally attacking a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel named Henry. Harrison Parker, Henry’s owner, told Good Morning America that he let his dog out for a quick bathroom break around 10 p.m. and found him lifeless in the driveway just minutes later.
“The pack of those four dogs were there minutes before I found Henry’s body,” Parker said. “There was absolutely no cars, no humans, just the dogs. And he was dead. And the fact he died like that alone in the darkness at night and I wasn’t there… it’s just horrible.”
A police report detailed the attack, noting that Henry had broken ribs, internal bleeding, and puncture wounds. Security footage allegedly captured Gibson’s dogs running toward the property just before the attack. Another neighbor had also called animal control that evening to report the Cane Corsos blocking her from leaving her home.
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According to the American Kennel Club, Cane Corsos are “smart, trainable, and of noble bearing,” but stresses that proper socialization and training are essential. Gibson is reportedly cooperating fully with authorities as the investigation continues.
In the days that followed, Fulton County police and animal control visited Gibson’s home to retrieve the dogs. Gibson, who was not present at the time, reportedly told officers over the phone that he would need “a few days to figure out what to do” before surrendering them. Ultimately, Gibson rehomed his two adult dogs and their three puppies in safe, loving homes. Police reportedly took custody of his small Pomeranian, who he said “takes medication.”
According to the police report, Gibson acknowledged that his dogs were responsible and admitted there had been ongoing issues with them escaping the property. Through his attorney, Gabe Banks of Banks Weaver Law Firm, Tyrese issued a formal statement extending condolences to the Parker family and accepting responsibility for his dogs.
“On behalf of my client, Mr. Tyrese Gibson, we wish to extend our deepest condolences to the family who lost their beloved dog in this tragic incident,” Banks said. “Tyrese’s heart is truly broken, and he has been praying for the family constantly, hoping they may one day find it in their hearts to forgive him. While he was out of town when the incident occurred, he accepts full responsibility for his dogs. The liability of keeping them was simply too great, and he could not bear the thought of anything like this ever happening again.”
Gibson also addressed the tragedy directly on Instagram. “After nearly 40 years of being a passionate dog lover—raising everything from Pomeranians, Yorkies, Shih Tzus, Maltese, to larger breeds like Shar Peis—my dogs have only ever been treated as family,” he wrote. “They’ve never been trained to harm, never spent a single day in attack or protection training, and they’ve grown up playing with kids and smaller dogs in my home. That’s why this incident has left me shocked, devastated, and heartbroken for the family affected.”
“As an empath, my heart hurts deeply for their unimaginable loss, and I’ve been trying to reach out directly to express my sorrow and condolences,” he expressed.
Gibson also made it clear that he was not at his residence during the time of the attack because he was still grieving with his family over the recent loss of his father. “I’m here in LA with my family, still mourning the loss of my father just 15 days ago,” he explained. “To the family who lost their beloved pet: please know that I am praying for you, grieving with you, and will continue to face this tragedy with honesty, responsibility, and compassion.”
The 46-year-old also clarified misinformation circulating online: “Please note: The blogs and the media are using images of Cane Corso dogs that are NOT my actual dogs to paint a very different picture…. This is not about me. This is about the family that’s dealing with a very unexpected tragedy. I just wanted to post this and give some clarity… May the Lord Jesus Christ continue to cover their family and my family—no one wanted or expected to wake up to any of this.”
Court records show this wasn’t the first time Gibson’s dogs had been an issue. A Fulton County police captain noted the Cane Corsos had been seen roaming freely at least five times in recent months, and Gibson had received a warning earlier in September. He had also been notified about needing a special permit for owning more than 10 dogs, though the current number of dogs in his care is unclear.
