CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Actor Angie Harmon is suing Instacart and the delivery worker she says shot and killed her dog in March 2024 at her home in Charlotte.
The civil lawsuit was filed by Harmon in Mecklenburg County court on May 10 on behalf of herself and both of her daughters, one of whom is a minor. The suit says the delivery driver, identified as Christopher Anthoney Reid, reportedly used a fake name and photo and was identified as "Merle" in the Instacart app. After delivering groceries to Harmon's house on March 30, Reid reportedly shot the family dog named Oliver. While the dog was rushed to a veterinarian for emergency care, Oliver died of his wounds.
The suit echoes Harmon's earlier statements made in posts on social media: that Oliver never posed a threat to Reid, that Reid was working under a false identity, and that Reid wasn't hurt.
Harmon wants both Reid and Instacart held accountable for the shooting. Her lawsuit claims Reid trespassed by hurting Oliver, that Reid and Instacart should be held liable for damages, and that Reid and Instacart were negligent. Harmon's suit also claims Instacart didn't properly screen Reid and that Reid further trespassed by posing as "Merle" and using an older woman's photo for his profile.
In her prayer for relief, Harmon asks for a jury trial and damages to be determined then. She also asks the court to tax the costs of the suit against Instacart and Reid.
Instacart provided the following statement to WCNC Charlotte on Wednesday:
Our hearts continue to be with Ms. Harmon and her family following this disturbing incident. 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.
Instacart also said all prospective shoppers who want to work on its platform must undergo a thorough background check and provide a copy of their driver's license. Shopper background checks include a check of the federal registry, sex offender registry, global watchlist, national criminal database, Social Security number trace, and search of state and county criminal records, along with driving records. Shopper's backgrounds are also re-checked annually.
Additionally, Instacart said shoppers are occasionally asked to verify their identities by taking a selfie that matches their photo identification.
WCNC Charlotte has reached out to Harmon's attorney for further comment.
Harmon has starred in the NBC legal drama series Law & Order and as one of the title characters in TNT's crime drama Rizzoli & Isles.
