Actress Angie Harmon has recently shared her heartbreaking experience following the tragic loss of her family dog, Oliver. The beloved pet was fatally shot by a driver who worked for Instacart, a delivery service, at their residence in North Carolina. This incident has left Harmon and her family devastated.
“It’s absolutely unimaginable to comprehend that there is someone in your front driveway who has just discharged a firearm,” Harmon revealed in an interview with Juju Chang from ABC News’ “Good Morning America” that aired on Wednesday. “And that sound is something you never forget.”
She expressed, “I have been involved in law enforcement for three decades, and the experience has been incredibly transformative.”
In late April, Harmon decided to use Instacart for her grocery delivery order to make sure everything was ready for her family’s Easter Sunday celebration.
During the delivery process, the actress from “Rizzoli and Isles” communicated with the shopper, Merle, via text message. However, she realized that the delivery person’s identity didn’t seem to match the name or photo on the Instacart app.
According to Harmon, when he placed his order, he had a conversation with a woman named Merle, who seemed to be in her middle-aged years. However, when the delivery arrived at his house, it was not Merle who showed up.
Harmon revealed that she was upstairs when the sound of a gunshot echoed through the house. She immediately noticed the startled reactions of her two daughters, Emery, 15, and Avery, 18, who she shares with her ex-husband, former NFL player Jason Sehorn.
“We were completely shocked,” Harmon recalled. “In the midst of the chaos, I shouted at Avery to dial 911. But before I could even finish my sentence, the delivery driver assured us, ‘No need to worry, I’ll make the call.'”
During the call, which was reviewed by ABC News, the man reported to the 911 operator that the dog was attempting to bite him.
During the 911 call, the driver recounts, “Your dog attempted to bite me. I’ve been trying to reach out to you through calls and texts, requesting you to put the dogs away.”
Harmon’s daughter took immediate action and dialed 911 to report the incident.
Officers from the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department arrived at the scene where an incident had occurred. According to a statement given to ABC News by a department spokesperson, the driver explained to the officers that he had been attacked by a dog while at the residence. In self-defense, he fired a single gunshot, which unfortunately resulted in the dog being fatally wounded.
Harmon reassured Chang that she had not observed any physical signs of the delivery driver being attacked, stating, “No, not at all.”
During the conversation with Chang, the actress shared that a necropsy conducted on Oliver revealed no indications of biting or engaging in violent behavior towards anyone.
Avery and Emery, Harmon’s daughters, informed Chang that they had never witnessed any aggression from Oliver, a beagle mix, towards delivery drivers.
Avery expressed that ordering five Amazon packages per day has never been a problem for them.
Avery fondly recalls the personality of Oliver, the adorable puppy they adopted from a rescue shelter. According to Avery, Oliver was always full of energy and had a sweet nature. When Oliver passed away, it felt like losing a beloved family member.
The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department closed the case and chose not to press charges following the shooting.
Harmon took legal action against Instacart and the shopper, accusing them of criminal trespassing and negligence in a lawsuit.
“I firmly believe that Instacart bears full responsibility for this situation,” Harmon expressed, emphasizing the profound impact it has had on her and her daughters’ mental well-being. “This tragic incident was entirely avoidable.”
Instacart has confirmed that the delivery driver involved in the incident has been “permanently deactivated,” according to a statement provided to ABC News.
In response to the pending litigation, the company issued a statement emphasizing its stance on violence. “We have zero tolerance for any form of violence, and as a result, the shopper account has been permanently deactivated from our platform,” the company expressed.
Instacart assured ABC News that it employs third-party background checks to ensure the safety of its drivers. Moreover, the company takes additional measures to verify the identity of its drivers. It is worth noting that Instacart’s policy strictly prohibits the carrying of weapons by its drivers.
Harmon hopes to raise awareness by sharing her story publicly.
She emphasized the importance of people being aware that the person they communicate with on Instacart may not be the same individual who arrives at their doorstep.