Current:Home > InvestAngie Harmon sues Instacart, delivery driver who allegedly shot dog Oliver -AssetScope
Angie Harmon sues Instacart, delivery driver who allegedly shot dog Oliver
View
Date:2025-04-14 14:07:26
Angie Harmon is suing Instacart and the delivery driver who fatally shot her dog outside her home in Charlotte, North Carolina, in late March.
Harmon, 51, is suing the grocery delivery service and driver, named in the filing as Christopher Anthoney Reid, for alleged trespassing, conversion, negligence and intentional infliction of emotional distress, according to Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, court records obtained by USA TODAY Wednesday. The actress is suing Instacart for negligent hiring and negligent misrepresentation.
The "Rizzoli & Isles" star is seeking more than $25,000 in damages, but an exact amount would be determined at trial.
"Our hearts continue to be with Ms. Harmon and her family following this disturbing incident," Instacart said in a statement to USA TODAY Wednesday. "While we cannot comment on pending litigation, we have no tolerance for violence of any kind, and the shopper account has been permanently deactivated from our platform."
In an Instagram post on April 1, the former "Law & Order" star said a man delivering groceries for Instacart got out of his car and shot family pet Oliver aka "Ollie" the day before.
Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle.
"He shot our dog with my daughters and myself at home and just kept saying, 'Yeah, I shot your dog. Yeah I did,'" Harmon wrote at the time. "We are completely traumatized and beyond devastated at the loss of our beloved boy and family member."
Harmon said the man was not arrested after he claimed "self-defense" but added that "he did not have a scratch or bite on him nor were his pants torn."
Harmon says the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department closed the investigation after only interviewing Reid and before an animal autopsy could be completed, according to the suit.
'Completely traumatized':Angie Harmon says Instacart driver shot and killed her dog
The Instacart driver used the name and photo of an older woman named Merle, the lawsuit alleges. But instead of Merle, it was Reid who showed up at her home, a "tall and intimidating younger man."
The filing says her daughters, who are listed as parties in the suit, were playing in the backyard at the time of the delivery.
When Harmon ran to investigate what she believed was a gunshot, she alleges she saw Reid place a "gun in the front of his pants, potentially in his pant pocket." She then saw Oliver, shot but alive, the lawsuit says. The actress drove the dog to a veterinarian's office, where he later died.
Harmon says she did not give Reid "permission to interfere, interact with, or otherwise disturb Oliver."
Jon Stewartchokes up in emotional 'Daily Show' segment about his dog's death
Reid was "not injured" or "seriously threatened" by Harmon's dog and had "ample opportunity" to leave her property unharmed without shooting it, the lawsuit alleges.
For Instacart's part, Harmon's lawyers say the company provided "false information" to Harmon and "breached" its duty to "exercise ordinary and reasonable care in the screening, hiring, training, retention, and supervision of its employees."
Angie Harmon reflects on death of dog Oliver shot by Instacart driver
In a "Good Morning America" interview aired Wednesday, Harmon recalled the incident and the toll losing Oliver has taken on her family.
"It's so unfathomable to think that there is somebody in your front driveway that just fired a gun," Harmon told ABC News' Juju Chang. "And you don't ever forget that sound."
Her family was "in such shock," she said of her daughters' reactions. "I was screaming at Avery to call 911. And when I said that, (the delivery driver) goes, 'No, I'm calling 911. I'll do it.'"
The actress later said the animal autopsy performed on Oliver showed no signs of having bitten or violently attacked anyone.
Harmon's daughters, Emery, 15, and Avery Sehorn, 18, told Chang they never saw Oliver, a beagle mix, be aggressive toward delivery drivers.
"I order five Amazon packages a day, and it's never been an issue," Sehorn said.
Contributing: Anthony Robledo
veryGood! (3435)
Related
- All That You Wanted to Know About She’s All That
- BaubleBar’s Biggest Custom Sale of the Year Has 25% off Rings, Necklaces, Bracelets & More Holiday Gifts
- MLB moves start of Tigers-Guardians decisive ALDS Game 5 from night to day
- Whoopi Goldberg slams Trump for calling 'View' hosts 'dumb' after Kamala Harris interview
- NHL in ASL returns, delivering American Sign Language analysis for Deaf community at Winter Classic
- Georgia election workers settle defamation lawsuit against conservative website
- Why Hurricanes Are Much—Much—Deadlier Than Official Death Counts Suggest
- 'SNL' fact check: How much of 'Saturday Night' film is real?
- Spooky or not? Some Choa Chu Kang residents say community garden resembles cemetery
- Tennessee to launch $100M loan program to help with Hurricane Helene cleanup
Ranking
- Off the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's daily crossword puzzle, Triathlon
- Tesla unveils Cybercab driverless model in 'We, Robot' event
- Volunteers bring solar power to Hurricane Helene’s disaster zone
- Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce Double Date With Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds in Style
- Sonya Massey's father decries possible release of former deputy charged with her death
- Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs to stay in jail while appeals court takes up bail fight
- Savannah Guthrie Teases Today's Future After Hoda Kotb's Departure
- These Sabrina the Teenage Witch Secrets Are Absolutely Spellbinding
Recommendation
'We're reborn!' Gazans express joy at returning home to north
The 2 people killed after a leak at a Texas oil refinery worked for a maintenance subcontractor
Ever wish there was a CliffsNotes guide for coming out as trans? Enter 'Hey! I'm Trans'
Far from where Hurricane Milton hit, tornadoes wrought unexpected damage
Finally, good retirement news! Southwest pilots' plan is a bright spot, experts say
Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs to stay in jail while appeals court takes up bail fight
The Most Harrowing Details From Sean Diddy Combs' Criminal Case
MLB moves start of Tigers-Guardians decisive ALDS Game 5 from night to day