Authorities arrested a man suspected of stabbing an unknown dog to death Sunday night in Falls Church, Virginia, according to WUSA9.

Police said Rayanne Hassan Ibrahim, 25, is suspected of stabbing the dog around 9:15 p.m. local outlet. The dog initially appeared to have survived the alleged bite, but later suffered severe injuries and had to be euthanized, a police officer said, the outlet reported.

Suspect arrested! Thanks to the efforts of a witness who shared the suspect's license plate number with police, the Metro Washington Airports Authority Police Department arrested Ibrahim near Dulles Airport around 11 a.m. today.

news release: https://t.co/yeHJVrKcET pic.twitter.com/TAHfEAsbMR

— Falls City Church (@FallsChurchGov) January 15, 2024

The dog was with its owner and was not injured in the alleged attack, WUSA9 reported. The family reportedly said the attack was not provoked.

“Lucy was loved beyond measure. My family is shocked beyond words,” an anonymous family member told the magazine. A family member also said the dog would have turned 13 in March this year.

The alleged assailant, Ibrahim, was reportedly taken into custody Monday morning during a traffic stop near Dulles International Airport, police said. The same family member who spoke about Lucy said the family was “relieved he won't hurt any more animals,” the report said. (Related: 'There's blood everywhere': Man allegedly stabbed 11-year-old dog to death in front of owner in unprovoked attack)

“Pets are part of the family, and our hearts go out to this dog's family. We grieve with this family,” said Jiwan Chhetri, acting chief of the Falls Church Police Department. statement Posted on Twitter.

“Thank you to my colleagues at MWAA. [Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority] We appreciate the swift action of the Police Department,” the acting chief said.

“We would also like to thank the members of the community who witnessed this heinous attack and removed their license plate information, which was an important part of apprehending this suspect,” Chhetri said in a statement. I added it.