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Actress Angie Harmon, known for her role in "Rizzoli & Isles," has filed a lawsuit against grocery delivery service Instacart and a delivery driver named Christopher Anthoney Reid over the alleged shooting death of her dog. The lawsuit, seeking over $25,000 in damages, accuses the defendants of various offenses including trespassing, conversion, negligence, and invasion of privacy.
According to court documents, Harmon scheduled a grocery delivery from a Charlotte, North Carolina grocery chain on March 30, believing she was interacting with a driver named "Merle." However, the suit claims that Reid, impersonating Merle on the Instacart app, arrived at Harmon's property to deliver the groceries. Harmon, unaware of the switch, allegedly heard what sounded like a gunshot while her children were in the backyard, prompting her to investigate.
The lawsuit states that Harmon discovered Reid placing a gun in his pants and observed her dog, Oliver, had been shot. Despite rushing Oliver to the veterinarian, the dog succumbed to its injuries. The suit further alleges that Reid was not seriously threatened by Oliver and had ample opportunity to leave the property without resorting to violence.
Following the incident, the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department closed the investigation without performing a necropsy on Oliver. Harmon expressed her devastation on Instagram, describing her family's trauma over the loss of their beloved pet.
Instacart responded to the incident by suspending the shopper from their platform and cooperating with local law enforcement. In a statement, the company reiterated their zero-tolerance policy towards violence and aggression, emphasizing the deactivation of the shopper's account.
Harmon's lawsuit comes after she initially shared on Instagram that Oliver was allegedly killed by an Instacart delivery man. The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department's investigation revealed conflicting accounts, with the driver claiming self-defense against a dog attack.
Despite no criminal charges, Harmon's legal action seeks accountability for the loss of Oliver and addresses concerns regarding safety protocols within Instacart's operations. As the lawsuit progresses, the case sheds light on the complexities surrounding pet ownership and delivery services in contemporary society.
