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Angie Harmon's dog, Oliver, was tragically shot and killed on March 30 by an Instacart delivery driver who claimed self-defense. Following the incident, Harmon has filed a lawsuit against Instacart and the driver, Christopher Anthoney Reid, for alleged trespassing, negligence, invasion of privacy, and more. The Rizzoli & Isles star is seeking over $25,000 in damages, with the exact amount to be determined at trial.
In an exclusive interview with PEOPLE, Harmon discussed the traumatic event and her reasons for pursuing legal action to prevent such incidents in the future.
On the day of the shooting, Harmon was upstairs feeding her pet squirrels when she heard a gunshot outside her Charlotte, NC home. She opened a window and heard her daughter Avery, 18, screaming, "Oh my God. Oh my God. Did you just shoot our dog!?" From her vantage point, Harmon saw Oliver, their German Shepherd and Beagle mix, lying helplessly on the porch.
Oliver, who had been part of the family since they rescued him from an SPCA shelter in Dallas, Texas, at four years old, was deeply loved and had always been their faithful companion. The incident occurred a day before Easter, drastically altering their lives.
Barefoot and in a nightgown and jeans, Harmon ran outside, shouting, "What is going on?" Reid, the Instacart driver, stood silently nearby, allegedly having just shot Oliver. Harmon recalls the chaotic scene, "We were running, screaming, crying. I remember thinking how strange it was that he wasn't helping, just watching us."
According to a statement from the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department, Reid claimed he shot the dog in self-defense after being attacked. Harmon alleges that Reid then tucked his gun into the front of his pants. She hurried back inside to get towels, leaving her youngest daughter Emery, 15, in tears and pleading for help.
Despite their efforts to lift Oliver into the car, Harmon and her daughter struggled. Avery called 911 as they tried to transport Oliver to an emergency vet. Harmon describes the scene at the vet, "I was on my hands and knees in the parking lot, sobbing, while the doctors tried to revive him. They performed CPR for 7 to 13 minutes, but then everything went still. I watched him, covered in his blood."
Court documents reveal that Harmon is suing Instacart and Reid, alleging Reid impersonated another driver named "Merle" on the Instacart app. Harmon's attorney claims Reid used his father's name and profile picture, misleading her about who was delivering her groceries. The suit contends that Reid was not seriously threatened by Oliver and had ample opportunity to leave without shooting the dog.
Instacart, in a statement to PEOPLE, expressed their condolences and confirmed that Reid's account had been permanently deactivated. They reiterated their zero-tolerance policy for violence and outlined security measures to prevent such incidents.
Harmon recounted the police response, noting that Reid was questioned for about 45 minutes while her family received much less attention. She emphasized that Reid showed no signs of injury and did not seek medical help, contradicting his claim of being attacked.
The incident has left Harmon and her daughters traumatized, with the family undergoing therapy for PTSD. Her other pets also feel the loss, particularly Benny, their Great Dane mix, who now sleeps where Oliver used to.
Reflecting on the needless tragedy, Harmon says, "There is no reason for anybody to go through this, none."
