Actress Angie Harmon was overcome with emotion as she recounted the harrowing incident in which an Instacart driver shot and killed her beloved dog, Oliver, in what the driver claimed was self-defense. Speaking on Good Morning America, the Law & Order star tearfully described the traumatic moment when she heard her youngest child scream in horror upon discovering what had happened. “You don’t ever forget that sound,” Harmon said. “I heard my youngest screaming. I just heard her say, ‘Did you just shoot my dog?’ I was like, ‘What?'”
The tragic event took place at Harmon’s North Carolina home during what was supposed to be a routine grocery delivery. The driver asserted that he was attacked by Oliver, a beagle mix, and shot the dog in self-defense. However, Harmon disputes this claim, stating there was no evidence to support it. Despite the driver’s account, the police decided not to press charges, a decision that has left Harmon devastated and determined to seek justice through a lawsuit.
Harmon revealed that she had placed a grocery order for Easter Sunday through Instacart and was in contact with a shopper named “Merl,” who was supposed to deliver the groceries. However, a different person, a man, showed up at her house. “I think it didn’t really hit us until later,” she said. “That’s when we called Instacart. They were just like, ‘Oh gosh, that’s terrible. We’ll see what we can do. We’ll get back to you.’ I was like, no, you don’t understand.”
In response to the incident and the lack of criminal charges, Harmon has filed a lawsuit against the driver and Instacart, seeking $25,000 for criminal trespassing, negligence, and other claims. “I think Instacart is beyond responsible for all of this,” she stated. “This didn’t have to happen. And, you know, the damages that it has done to our family.”
Harmon described the chaotic scene when her youngest daughter, Avery, confronted the driver. “I think we were in such shock. I was just screaming at Avery to call 911. When I said that, he said, ‘No, I’m calling 911. I’ll do it,'” Harmon explained. Audio from the incident records the driver claiming that the dog tried to bite him, prompting him to shoot. “Your dog tried to bite me. I’m calling you, texting you,” the driver is heard saying. “I’m on the phone with 911. The dogs went off. The dog is trying to bite me. So what am I supposed to do? I shot one of them.”
Despite the driver’s claims, Harmon insists there were no signs of an attack, such as bite marks or torn clothing. As a mother of two, Harmon, who was previously married to NFL player Jason Sehorn, emphasized the importance of awareness. “As hard as it is, getting the word out there that people need to know that, you know, who they’re talking to on Instacart is not necessarily who’s gonna show up at your house,” she added.
Instacart requires all prospective shoppers to undergo a thorough background check, and carrying a weapon is strictly forbidden. In a statement, a spokeswoman for Instacart expressed condolences and noted that the driver’s account has been permanently deactivated. “Our hearts continue to be with Ms. Harmon and her family following this disturbing incident. While we cannot comment on pending litigation, we have no tolerance for violence of any kind,” the spokeswoman said.