Georgia woman sues officer who shot beloved donkey HeeHaw during search for missing girl, tell me about this news in (https://www.cbsnews.com/atlanta/news/georgia-woman-sues-officer-who-shot-beloved-donkey-heehaw-during-search-for-missing-girl/)
14-09-2026
Hannah Israel, the owner of a donkey named HeeHaw, filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against Cedartown police officer Trenton Garner after he shot and killed the animal during a search for a missing child in Georgia.Key details of the incident and lawsuit:
- The Incident: Late on August 29, Officer Garner and other officers entered Israel’s enclosed pasture on her Rockmart property while searching for a missing 12-year-old girl. According to the lawsuit, officers did not obtain Israel’s consent, lacked a search warrant, and had no legal emergency justifying entry into the pasture.
- The Shooting: The complaint describes HeeHaw as a young, small, calm donkey that posed no danger. In contrast, Officer Garner stated in an incident report that HeeHaw charged toward officers and continued advancing even after a K-9 handler sparked a Taser arc to frighten him away, prompting Garner to fire a single shot to protect the team.
- The Aftermath: Israel alleges that officers departed without disclosing where the animal was located. She stated that a supervisor later notified her that a donkey had been “dispatched,” forcing her and a child to search the dark, multi-acre property before finding HeeHaw’s body.
- Legal Claims: The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, accuses Garner in his individual capacity of unlawful entry, unreasonable seizure and destruction of property, and deprivation of property without due process. Israel is seeking compensatory and punitive damages, as well as attorney fees.
- Current Status: Officer Garner was placed on administrative leave while the Georgia Department of Agriculture’s Law Enforcement Division conducts an independent investigation. The missing 12-year-old girl was later located safely.