Albuquerque Man Arrested for Shooting Neighbor's Chihuahua

Suspect had prior conviction for killing a cat in front of his young son

Published on Feb. 14, 2026

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An Albuquerque man named Jonathan Griego was arrested after a neighbor said he shot her Chihuahua in the face with a BB gun. The dog survived, but it turns out Griego had been convicted of shooting and killing a cat at a previous apartment complex in 2021, an incident that occurred in front of his 3-year-old son. Griego is now facing a new charge of extreme cruelty to animals.

Why it matters

This case highlights the ongoing issue of animal cruelty in urban areas and the need for stronger enforcement and penalties to deter repeat offenders from harming pets. It also raises concerns about the safety of neighborhoods where individuals with a history of violence towards animals are allowed to remain.

The details

According to police, on December 14, 2025, a woman in an Albuquerque apartment complex near San Mateo Blvd. and Zuni Rd. told officers that her neighbor, Jonathan Griego, had shot her Chihuahua in the face with a BB gun while the dog was outside. The woman led police to her apartment to show them the wounded animal, which had a BB lodged in its swollen snout. Officers tried to speak with Griego, but he was not home at the time. Investigators later learned that this was not Griego's first offense - in 2021, he had pleaded guilty to animal cruelty after shooting and killing a cat at a different apartment complex, an incident that occurred in front of his 3-year-old son.

  • On December 14, 2025, the woman reported that Griego shot her Chihuahua.
  • In 2021, Griego pleaded guilty to animal cruelty for shooting and killing a cat in front of his 3-year-old son.

The players

Jonathan Griego

An Albuquerque man who was arrested for shooting his neighbor's Chihuahua with a BB gun. Griego had a prior conviction in 2021 for animal cruelty after shooting and killing a cat in front of his young son.

Neighbor

The woman who reported that Griego shot her Chihuahua in the face with a BB gun while the dog was outside.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in Albuquerque and harm innocent animals.”

— Albuquerque Resident

What’s next

Griego has a preliminary hearing scheduled for next week, where a judge will determine if he should remain out of jail or be held on the new animal cruelty charge.

The takeaway

This case highlights the need for stronger enforcement and harsher penalties for individuals who commit acts of animal cruelty, especially those with a history of such offenses. It also underscores the importance of addressing mental health and anger management issues that may contribute to this type of violent behavior towards pets in residential neighborhoods.