welcom to America today with a new article about Angie Harmon Opens Up About the ‘Unfathomable’ Pain of Losing Her Dog After He Was Shot by Instacart Driver (Exclusive)
Harmon exclusively talks to PEOPLE about her dog Oliver’s tragic death on March 30 and why she’s now taking legal action: “We can’t just sit back and do nothing” Angie Harmon’s dog Oliver was shot and killed on March 30 by an Instacart delivery driver, who told Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police that he acted in self-defense.
Harmon has since filed a lawsuit against Instacart and delivery driver Christopher Anthoney Reid for alleged trespassing, negligence, invasion of privacy and more.
Harmon ran out the front door barefoot, dressed in a nightgown and jeans, and remembers yelling, “What is going on?” Angie Harmon attends the premiere of Disney’s “The Jungle Book” A few feet away, Christopher Anthoney Reid, a grocery delivery service driver, stood silent after he allegedly shot their beloved canine.
The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department learned in their investigation that after Reid delivered the food to Harmon’s residence, he claimed “The dog attacked him and that he defended himself by firing a single gunshot, striking and mortally wounding the dog,” per the police statement.
While Avery called 911, Harmon says she and her daughter lifted the dog, but they were both traumatized by his physical appearance.
Her attorney claims that Reid – whose father’s name is Merle, per records viewed by PEOPLE – was the one who arrived at Harmon’s property to deliver the groceries.
The suit alleges, “Reid was impersonating Merle on the Instacart app,” and consequently, Harmon had “No idea she had been communicating” with Reid, who is described in the documents as “a tall and intimidating younger man.” The suit further alleges that Reid was “Not injured” or “Seriously threatened” by Harmon’s dog and had “Ample opportunity” to leave the property unharmed without shooting the dog.
“It’s just so unnecessary. If this man was afraid of dogs, why is he a delivery person hiding under a false identity, carrying a gun?” Harmon questions.
“If he’s so scared of dogs, why wouldn’t he have pepper spray, an air horn or a stick? There’s no way that this man was in such bodily danger that he needed a gun to shoot our 43-pound dog.” When Harmon and her two daughters Avery and Emery visited Oliver at the vet later on, he was struggling to survive.
“My girls repeated, ‘I’m so sorry. I’m so sorry,’ over and over again, and it was heartbreaking,” Harmon says.
“Emory felt so guilty because the last thing he saw with her was running away from him instead of coming to help. I had the girls leave the room, then cried to him. I felt like I was going to throw up, and I did. We were silent on the way and the ride home. All of it was just so unnecessary,” Harmon recalls.
On Mother’s Day, May 12, Harmon’s oldest daughter Finley, 20, returned from college to grieve with the family.
“We’re all in therapy for PTSD. There is no reason for anybody to go through this, none,” says Harmon, noting that her daughters couldn’t get out of bed for a week afterward.
“I miss him being here,” Harmon says, heartbroken.