Current:Home > StocksAngie Harmon sues Instacart, delivery driver who allegedly shot dog Oliver -Ascend Finance Compass
Angie Harmon sues Instacart, delivery driver who allegedly shot dog Oliver
View
Date:2025-04-16 04:21:30
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! (11466)
Related
- Former longtime South Carolina congressman John Spratt dies at 82
- Maine man who disappeared after driving wife to work found trapped in truck in New Hampshire woods
- Parent Trap BFFs Lisa Ann Walter and Elaine Hendrix Discover Decades-Old Family Connection
- Italy mulls new migrant crackdown as talk turns to naval blockade to prevent launching of boats
- John Galliano out at Maison Margiela, capping year of fashion designer musical chairs
- Ariana Grande and Dalton Gomez Officially File for Divorce After 2 Years of Marriage
- The Challenge Stars Nany González and Kaycee Clark Are Engaged
- Deion Sanders on who’s the best coach in the Power Five. His answer won’t surprise you.
- Pressure on a veteran and senator shows what’s next for those who oppose Trump
- Everything you need to know about this year’s meeting of leaders at the UN General Assembly
Ranking
- NFL Week 15 picks straight up and against spread: Bills, Lions put No. 1 seed hopes on line
- California fast food workers will earn at least $20 per hour. How's that minimum wage compare?
- Speaker McCarthy running out of options to stop a shutdown as conservatives balk at new plan
- A woman in England says she's living in a sea of maggots in her new home amid trash bin battle
- 'As foretold in the prophecy': Elon Musk and internet react as Tesla stock hits $420 all
- Georgia still No. 1, while Alabama, Tennessee fall out of top 10 of the US LBM Coaches Poll
- 'Person of interest' detained in murder of Los Angeles deputy: Live updates
- 'The Care and Keeping of You,' American Girl's guide to puberty, turns 25
Recommendation
Taylor Swift Eras Archive site launches on singer's 35th birthday. What is it?
32 things we learned in NFL Week 2: Giants' massive comeback stands above rest
Italy mulls new migrant crackdown as talk turns to naval blockade to prevent launching of boats
Protesters demand that Japan save 1000s of trees by revising a design plan for a popular Tokyo park
'Kraven the Hunter' spoilers! Let's dig into that twisty ending, supervillain reveal
Horoscopes Today, September 17, 2023
Federal Reserve is poised to leave rates unchanged as it tracks progress toward a ‘soft landing’
German ambassador’s attendance at Israeli court hearing ignites diplomatic spat