Actor Angie Harmon has filed a lawsuit against Instacart and one of its former shoppers who fatally shot her dog in March while delivering groceries at her North Carolina home. The lawsuit accuses the shopper and Instacart of trespassing, gross negligence, emotional distress, and invasion of privacy, among other allegations. It also claims that Instacart engaged in negligent hiring, supervision, retention, and misrepresentation. The lawsuit seeks monetary damages, to be determined at trial. Instacart has since banned the shopper from its platform.
Harmon, known for her work on TV shows like “Law & Order” and “Rizzoli & Isles,” spoke out about the incident in an interview with “Good Morning America,” saying it was “unfathomable” to have someone in her driveway firing a gun. She held Instacart responsible for the tragedy, stating that it was a situation that did not have to happen. Harmon is seeking justice for the loss of her dog and the emotional distress caused by the incident.
On March 30, Harmon ordered groceries through the Instacart app from a Charlotte store. The shopper, who had a profile photo of an older woman named Merle, arrived at Harmon’s home to make the delivery. However, the actual person who showed up was a “tall and intimidating younger man,” not the woman in the photo. Harmon heard a gunshot sound, rushed outside, and found her dog, Oliver, had been shot. The delivery person was seen putting a gun into the front of his pants. Harmon’s teenage daughters, who were also present, were in distress. Oliver died at the veterinarian’s office following the incident.
The shopper claimed he shot the dog in self-defense as it attacked him, but Harmon pointed out in an Instagram post that he had no scratches or bites on him, and his pants were not torn. Instacart took immediate action by suspending the shopper and later removing him permanently from their platform. The company conducts comprehensive background checks on shoppers, prohibits them from carrying weapons, and has anti-fraud measures to ensure the person shopping matches their photo on file. Instacart expressed sympathy for Harmon and her family and stated they have zero tolerance for violence.
Overall, the incident involving Angie Harmon’s dog being shot by an Instacart shopper has led to a lawsuit seeking justice for the emotional distress it caused. Harmon has spoken out against the company, holding them accountable for the tragic event. The legal action aims to address accusations of trespassing, gross negligence, and invasion of privacy, among other claims. Instacart has responded by permanently banning the shopper involved and emphasizing their commitment to preventing violence on their platform. Harmon and her family continue to cope with the loss of Oliver and the aftermath of the devastating incident.
