'Law & Order' actor Angie Harmon sues Instacart and shopper who shot and killed her dog
Actor Angie Harmon last week sued Instacart and a former Instacart shopper who told police he shot and killed her dog in self-defense during a stop at her North Carolina home at the end of March.
Harmon, known for her roles on television series such as "Law & Order" and "Rizolli & Isles," posted about the incident on her social media accounts last month. On Friday, she filed a lawsuit against the company and Christopher Anthoney Reid in Mecklenburg County alleging negligence, trespassing, infliction of emotional distress and invasion of privacy.
According to Harmon's suit, Reid impersonated another person as a shopper on the app. He went by the name "Merle," and the shopper profile picture was of an older woman, it says.
Harmon says in her suit she had no idea the person she communicated with on the app was "a tall and intimidating younger man" who showed up at her home to make the delivery.
At the time of the delivery, Harmon was upstairs, while her daughters were in the backyard with another adult, she said. She said she heard a gunshot and immediately rushed downstairs in fear of her children's safety.
She said that she then saw Reid "placing a gun in the front of his pants, potentially in his pant pocket," and that her beloved dog Oliver was shot.
"It's so unfathomable to think there's somebody in your front driveway that just fired a gun," Harmon told ABC's "Good Morning America" in an interview that aired Wednesday.
Reid could not be reached for comment Wednesday at a phone number listed for him in public records.
The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department said in a statement at the time that officers responded to the home but that no criminal charges were pursued as the delivery driver said he'd acted in self-defense.
"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," the statement said. "Another dog was present at the residence but did not attack."
Harmon told "Good Morning America" there was no visible signs that her dog attacked Reid, and her suit says he "had ample opportunity" to leave the property unharmed without shooting the dog.
She also accuses Instacart of negligible hiring practices.
Instacart said in a statement in response to a request for comment that it has no tolerance of violence of any kind.
"Our hearts continue to be with Ms. Harmon and her family following this disturbing incident," the statement said. "While we cannot comment on pending litigation, we have no tolerance for violence of any kind, and the shopper account has been permanently deactivated from our platform."
According to Instacart's website, a shopper can be deactivated for creating an unsafe environment, which includes carrying a weapon while performing company services. It also says Instacart conducts background checks on shoppers.
This article was originally published on NBCNews.com