Actress Angie Harmon is finally sharing her heartbreaking experience after her beloved family dog, Oliver, was tragically shot and killed by an Instacart delivery driver at their North Carolina residence.
“It’s unimaginable to think that there’s someone in your front driveway who just fired a gun,” Harmon shared with ABC News’ Juju Chang during an interview on “Good Morning America” that aired on Wednesday. “And the sound of it is something you never forget.”
She exclaimed, “I have been involved in law enforcement for 30 years, and the experience has been nothing short of transformative.”
In late April, Harmon placed a grocery delivery order via Instacart to get ready for her family’s Easter Sunday celebration.
During the delivery process, the actress from “Rizzoli and Isles” revealed that she was in contact with the shopper, who she believed to be a woman named Merle, through text messages. However, she later realized that the delivery person, who turned out to be a male, did not seem to correspond to the name or photo on the Instacart app.
“It seemed as though we were conversing with a middle-aged woman named Merle, who appeared to be slightly older,” Harmon recounted. “She was discussing my order with me, but when she arrived at my house, it was someone completely different.”
Harmon was upstairs when the sound of a gunshot pierced the air. She immediately noticed the reactions of her two daughters, Emery (15) and Avery (18), whom she shares with her ex-husband, former NFL player Jason Sehorn.
“We were completely stunned,” recalled Harmon. “In the midst of the chaos, I urgently told Avery to dial 911. But before I could even finish my sentence, the delivery driver assured us, ‘No worries, I’ll make the call.'”
During the call, which was reviewed by ABC News, the man informs the 911 operator that the dog was attempting to bite him.
During the 911 call, the driver expressed his concern, stating, “Your dog tried to bite me. I’ve been trying to contact you through calls and texts, requesting you to please put the dogs away.”
Harmon’s daughter also reached out to 911 to report the incident.
According to a spokesperson from the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department, officers were called to the scene where a driver reported being attacked by a dog at a residence. The driver claimed that in self-defense, he fired a single gunshot that fatally injured the dog.
Chang asked Harmon if she noticed any physical signs of an attack on the delivery driver. Harmon replied, “No, not at all.”
According to Harmon’s daughters, Avery and Emery, they never witnessed any aggression from Oliver, a beagle mix, towards delivery drivers.
Avery, who frequently places orders for five Amazon packages in a day, has never encountered any problems with the delivery process.
Avery fondly recalls the personality of Oliver, the puppy they adopted from a rescue shelter. She describes him as a playful and sweet companion, stating, “He’s always been very playful, and he was very sweet.” Avery also shares the emotional impact of Oliver’s passing, comparing it to losing a beloved family member.
The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department closed the case and chose not to press charges after the shooting.
Harmon has taken legal action against Instacart and the shopper, accusing them of criminal trespassing and negligence.
Harmon firmly believes that Instacart bears the ultimate responsibility for the unfortunate turn of events. She expresses her concern over the impact it has had on her and her daughters’ mental well-being, stating that they have been grappling with their mental health ever since the incident occurred. Harmon emphasizes that this entire situation could have been avoided.
ABC News was informed by Instacart that the delivery driver involved in the incident has been “permanently deactivated”.
In a statement, the company expressed its stance on violence, stating that it has zero tolerance for any form of violence. Although the company refrained from commenting on the ongoing litigation, it confirmed that the shopper account involved has been permanently deactivated from their platform.
According to Instacart, they utilize third-party background checks and employ measures to confirm the identity of their drivers. The company also mentioned that their policy strictly prohibits the use or possession of weapons by their drivers.
Harmon hopes to raise awareness by sharing her story publicly.
“It’s important for people to understand that the person they interact with on Instacart might not be the same person who arrives at their doorstep,” she emphasized.
