Actress Angie Harmon Sues Instacart and Delivery Driver After Her Dog is Shot and Killed on Her Property

Charlotte, North Carolina, North Carolina United States of America
Angie Harmon is suing Instacart and a delivery driver named Christopher Anthony Reid after her dog, Oliver, was shot and killed on her property.
Harmon alleges that Reid had no right to be on her property and violated local laws by carrying a gun. She is suing both Instacart and Reid for trespassing, conversion, negligence, invasion of privacy, infliction of emotional distress, and more.
Instacart has permanently deactivated the driver involved in the incident.
Oliver was still alive at the time but ultimately died due to his injuries.
Police were called to the scene but closed the case without further action before a necropsy could be conducted.
The incident occurred when Harmon believed she was communicating with the delivery driver but instead received an unexpected visitor. When Reid arrived for the delivery, Harmon heard a gunshot and discovered that her dog had been shot.
Actress Angie Harmon Sues Instacart and Delivery Driver After Her Dog is Shot and Killed on Her Property

Angie Harmon, an actress known for her roles in Rizzoli & Isles and Law & Order, is suing Instacart and a delivery driver after her dog was shot and killed on her property. According to multiple reports, the incident occurred when Harmon believed she was communicating with a delivery driver named 'Merle' but instead received an unexpected visitor – Christopher Anthony Reid. When Reid arrived for the delivery, Harmon heard a gunshot and discovered that her dog, Oliver, had been shot.

The police were called to the scene but closed the case without further action before a necropsy could be conducted. Harmon alleges that Reid had no right to be on her property and violated local laws by carrying a gun. She is suing both Instacart and Reid for trespassing, conversion, negligence, invasion of privacy, infliction of emotional distress, and more.

In an interview with Good Morning America (GMA), Harmon shared her experience: 'It's so unfathomable to think that there is somebody in your front driveway that just fired a gun. And you don't ever forget that sound.' She also mentioned the importance of being aware of who is coming to your property, especially when using delivery services like Instacart.

The incident has left Harmon and her family devastated. Oliver was still alive at the time but ultimately died due to his injuries. The police questioned Reid but did not press charges before a necropsy could be conducted.

Instacart has permanently deactivated the driver involved in the incident, according to multiple reports.

This tragic event serves as a reminder of the importance of being cautious when allowing strangers onto your property and using delivery services. It is crucial to ensure that all parties involved are who they claim to be and that proper safety measures are taken.



Confidence

91%

Doubts
  • Was the delivery driver actually an imposter or did Harmon mistakenly believe she was communicating with him?
  • Was the police investigation thorough enough? Why was no charge filed before a necropsy could be conducted?

Sources

78%

  • Unique Points
    • Actress Angie Harmon's dog, Oliver, was shot and killed by an Instacart delivery driver at her North Carolina home.
    • The identity of the delivery person did not match the name or photo on the Instacart app.
    • Two of Harmon’s daughters, Emery and Avery, were present during the incident and called 911.
    • A necropsy performed on Oliver showed no signs of having bitten or violently attacked anyone.
    • Instacart has permanently deactivated the delivery driver involved in the incident.
  • Accuracy
    • The driver told police that he defended himself by firing a gunshot after being attacked by Oliver.
    • Oliver was still alive at the time but ultimately died due to his injuries.
  • Deception (30%)
    The article contains selective reporting as it only reports details that support the author's position. The author states that the delivery driver did not match the name or photo on the Instacart app and implies that this is significant. However, it is not mentioned whether Instacart was informed of this discrepancy or if they took any action to verify the driver's identity. Additionally, there are quotes from 911 calls where the driver claims that the dog attacked him, but no physical evidence or witness statements are provided to support this claim. The article also implies that Oliver was a peaceful dog and never showed aggression towards delivery drivers, but it does not mention if any other incidents involving delivery drivers occurred before this incident.
    • The driver's identity did not appear to match the name or photo on the Instacart app.
    • The driver told officers that a dog attacked him while he was at the residence and that he defended himself by firing a single gunshot, striking and mortally wounding the dog.
    • People need to know that, you know, who they’re talking to on Instacart is not necessarily who’s going to show up at your house.
  • Fallacies (85%)
    The author makes an appeal to authority when stating that the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department closed the case and declined to file charges. This statement does not provide any new information or evidence, but rather relies on the authority of the police department's decision.
    • ]People need to know that, you know, who they’re talking to on Instacart is not necessarily who’s going to show up at your house[
    • The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department closed the case and declined to file charges.
  • Bias (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication

81%

  • Unique Points
    • Angie Harmon believed she was interacting with a delivery driver named 'Merle' while answering questions about her order but it was Reid who arrived at her property.
    • The company's user agreement prohibits violence or aggression, including carrying a weapon, and also prohibits fraud and sharing account information.
  • Accuracy
    • The identity of the delivery person did not match the name or photo on the Instacart app.
    • The driver told police that he defended himself by firing a gunshot after being attacked by Oliver.
    • The driver claimed he shot the dog in self-defense after it tried to bite him first.
  • Deception (30%)
    The article reports on a lawsuit filed by Angie Harmon against Instacart and a delivery driver after her dog was shot and killed. The author does not make any editorializing or pontification statements, but there are instances of selective reporting and potential sensationalism. The article only reports details that support Harmon's position, such as the alleged trespassing, negligence, invasion of privacy, and negligent misrepresentation claims against Instacart and the driver. It does not mention any potential counterarguments or evidence from the other side. Additionally, there is a sensational headline that may grab readers' attention without providing all necessary context.
    • Angie Harmon had no idea she had been communicating with Reid when he arrived at her property to deliver the groceries. He was impersonating Merle on the Instacart app.
    • The Rizzoli & Isles alum is suing the grocery delivery service and the driver for alleged trespassing, conversion, negligence, negligent supervision/hiring, invasion of privacy and negligent misrepresentation.
  • Fallacies (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Bias (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Author Conflicts Of Interest (0%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication

94%

  • Unique Points
    • Angie Harmon is suing Christopher Anthony Reid for shooting and killing her dog Oliver on her property in North Carolina.
    • Reid allegedly impersonated a woman named ‘Merle’ during their communication over the Instacart delivery.
    • When Reid arrived for the delivery, Angie heard a gunshot and discovered Oliver had been shot. Reid put the gun into his pocket and left the scene.
    • Oliver was still alive at the time but ultimately died due to his injuries.
    • The police questioned Reid but closed the case without further action before a necropsy could be conducted.
    • Reid had no right to be on Angie’s property and allegedly violated local laws by carrying a gun.
  • Accuracy
    • Reid allegedly impersonated a woman named 'Merle' during their communication over the Instacart delivery.
    • The driver told police that he defended himself by firing a gunshot after being attacked by Oliver.
    • No criminal charges were filed against the driver, leading Harmon to file a lawsuit.
  • Deception (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Fallacies (85%)
    The article contains a few informal fallacies and an example of inflammatory rhetoric. It uses a sensationalized headline and employs emotive language throughout the text. The author also presents one-sided evidence by only including Angie Harmon's perspective on the incident, without providing any counterarguments or statements from the deliveryman.
    • Angie Harmon is taking the deliveryman who shot and killed her dog to court -- and she's also going after the company he was working for ... claiming it was negligent.
  • Bias (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication

74%

  • Unique Points
    • Angie Harmon's dog, Oliver, was shot and killed by an Instacart driver at her North Carolina home.
    • The identity of the delivery person did not match the name or photo on the Instacart app.
  • Accuracy
    • The identity of the delivery person did not match the name or photo on the Instacart app in some articles.
    • Two of Harmon’s daughters were present during the incident and called 911 in one article, but not mentioned in others.
  • Deception (30%)
    The article contains selective reporting as it only reports details that support the author's position. The author states that there were no signs of an attack but does not mention the driver's claim of being bitten or any evidence supporting this claim. This creates a biased and incomplete representation of the incident.
    • The driver claimed he was attacked, but Harmon said there was no evidence of this.
    • With no criminal charges forthcoming, Harmon has now filed a lawsuit against the driver and Instacart.
  • Fallacies (85%)
    The author uses inflammatory rhetoric by describing the Instacart driver shooting the dog as 'self defense' when it is unclear if that was actually the case. The author also makes an appeal to authority by stating that police decided not to press charges, but this does not necessarily mean that the driver acted justifiably. No formal fallacies were found.
    • ][Actress Angie Harmon broke down in tears as she recalled the moment an Instacart driver shot her beloved dog dead in ‘self defense’][/], [']It’s so unfathomable to think there is somebody in your front drive way that just fired a gun.[/']
  • Bias (95%)
    The author expresses clear bias towards the Instacart driver by implying that he was not who the author was communicating with and that he lied about being attacked by the dog. The author also implies that Instacart is responsible for what happened despite no evidence of wrongdoing on their part.
    • But mom-of-two Harmon, who was previously married to NFL player Jason Sehorn, said there were no signs of any attack such as bite marks or torn clothing.
      • However, the driver who showed up was a man.
        • I think Instacart is beyond responsible for all of this.
        • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
          None Found At Time Of Publication
        • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
          None Found At Time Of Publication

        82%

        • Unique Points
          • Angie Harmon lost her dog Ollie in an incident where an Instacart driver shot and killed the dog, claiming it attacked him first.
          • Angie was unable to lift Ollie into the car during the incident.
        • Accuracy
          • ,
        • Deception (50%)
          None Found At Time Of Publication
        • Fallacies (100%)
          None Found At Time Of Publication
        • Bias (100%)
          None Found At Time Of Publication
        • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
          None Found At Time Of Publication
        • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
          None Found At Time Of Publication