The shooting happened on Saturday afternoon at the Wyndham Grand Rio Mar Resort in the north coastal town of Río Grande, reported local news San Juan Daily Star (SJDS). The man is identified as 60-year-old Salil A. Zaveri.
“Thanks to my policemen, who today was the voice of justice of a little dog, that an unscrupulous one, vilely killed, without any reason and in a clear disregard for life,” Figueroa wrote (translated from Spanish) praising his officers, along with sharing a picture of three police officers arresting Zaveri.
Zaveri was taken in custody by the police from Río Grande at around 5:15 p.m. the same day after receiving a “complaint of cruelty to animals,” reported SJDS. A 911 emergency call from a person informed the police of a man shooting a dog more than once.
Dave DeCecco, group vice president, global communications, at the Wyndham Grand Rio Mar Resort, told Newsweek that they were troubled by the incident.
“We’re deeply troubled by this incident and continue to fully cooperate with local authorities as they conduct their investigation. At this time, we’re unable to comment further and ask that any questions be directed to the appropriate local authorities,” said DeCecco.
According to his bio on his consulting website, Zaveri is a 40-year-experienced San Juan–based, sales and marketing consultant and the CEO of Zaveri Consulting, LLC. His team is based throughout the U.S.
Zaveri, who since then has deleted his Twitter account, is “accused of shooting and killing a dog that had stolen his ball on a golf course,” reported ABC News.
According to the police, he used a 9 mm gun to shoot the dog several times, as per ABC News. Zaveri was “released on $60,000 bond but his passport and driver’s license have been seized.”
“Ay dioj colonel… you beat yourself on the chest celebrating that a millionaire is given a bail of $ 60,000 and two Puerto Ricans (who committed a minor offense) are given $800,000 ?! Your police are (and always have been) against my people. Grow up, and do your blessed work,” wrote a user (translated from Spanish).
“They are not your police, They are the Puerto Rico Police!,” another wrote pointing out the use of “my” in Figueroa’s caption.
In another incident of animal cruelty, a Pennsylvania man shot his dog and burned the small animal in his front yard. He was detained by the police with a bail set at $1 million.
Newsweek reached out to the Puerto Rico Police Bureau for further comments but did not get through.