Current:Home > MarketsAngie Harmon sues Instacart, delivery driver who allegedly shot dog Oliver-LoTradeCoin
Angie Harmon sues Instacart, delivery driver who allegedly shot dog Oliver
View Date:2024-12-23 23:22:59
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! (5123)
Related
- Infowars auction could determine whether Alex Jones is kicked off its platforms
- Botanists are scouring the US-Mexico border to document a forgotten ecosystem split by a giant wall
- Georgia Republicans choose Amy Kremer, organizer of pro-Trump Jan. 6 rally, for seat on the RNC
- Preakness 2024 recap: Seize the Grey wins, denies Mystik Dan shot at Triple Crown
- Jessica Simpson's Husband Eric Johnson Steps Out Ringless Amid Split Speculation
- The Senate filibuster is a hurdle to any national abortion bill. Democrats are campaigning on it
- Jessica Biel Chops Off Her Hair to Debut 7th Heaven-Style Transformation
- NBA Game 7 schedule today: Everything to know about Sunday's elimination playoff games
- Congress heard more testimony about UFOs: Here are the biggest revelations
- John Krasinski’s ‘IF’ hits a box office nerve with $35 million debut
Ranking
- As the transition unfolds, Trump eyes one of his favorite targets: US intelligence
- Max Verstappen holds off Lando Norris to win Emilia Romagna Grand Prix and extend F1 lead
- Michael Cohen to face more grilling as Trump’s hush money trial enters its final stretch
- Kansas City Chiefs CEO's Wife and Daughter Speak Out Amid Harrison Butker Controversy
- New York eyes reviving congestion pricing toll before Trump takes office
- Georgia freshman wide receiver arrested for reckless driving
- TikTok ban: Justice Department, ByteDance ask appeals court to fast-track decision
- Persistent helium leak triggers additional delay for Boeing's hard-luck Starliner spacecraft
Recommendation
-
Melissa Gilbert recalls 'painful' final moment with 'Little House' co-star Michael Landon
-
Bernie Sanders to deliver University of New England graduation speech: How to watch
-
Q&A: Kevin Costner on unveiling his Western saga ‘Horizon’ at Cannes
-
CNN Commentator Alice Stewart Dead at 58
-
South Carolina lab recaptures 5 more escaped monkeys but 13 are still loose
-
WNBA investigating $100,000 annual sponsorships for Aces players from Las Vegas tourism authority
-
Carolina Hurricanes head coach Rod Brind'Amour agrees to contract extension
-
How compassion, not just free tuition, helped one Ohio student achieve his college dreams