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Georgia police officer fatally shoots petting zoo donkey
A Georgia police officer fatally shot a donkey named HeeHaw during a search for a missing 12-year-old girl on August 30. The incident occurred at Elsberry Riding & Farm in Rockmart/Cedartown.
Cedartown Police Officer Trenton Garner reported that while assisting a K-9 bloodhound team, a donkey began charging at the officers. Garner stated he fired a single shot from his Glock 17 to protect himself and the K-9 handler after a Taser failed to deter the animal.
The donkey's owner, Hannah Israel, disputes the officer's account, stating that HeeHaw was a bottle-fed animal that was not aggressive and was likely reacting to strangers entering the pasture. Israel has since hired an attorney and is considering a civil lawsuit.
Chief Jamie Newsome has placed Officer Garner on leave, and the Georgia Department of Agriculture’s law enforcement division has launched an investigation into the shooting. The missing child was successfully located later in the search operation.
Entities
Cedartown Police Department · Elsberry Riding & Farm · Georgia Department of Agriculture · Hannah Israel · Trenton Garner
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 2 SOURCES] Officer Trenton Garner shot and killed a donkey named HeeHaw to protect himself and a K-9 team. newsfactsnetwork.com · internewscast.com
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Chief Jamie Newsome has placed Officer Garner on leave following the incident. newsfactsnetwork.com
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The Georgia Department of Agriculture’s law enforcement division is investigating the shooting. newsfactsnetwork.com
- [● 2 SOURCES] The donkey's owner, Hannah Israel, disputes the claim that the animal was aggressive. newsfactsnetwork.com · internewscast.com
- [● 2 SOURCES] A K-9 handler attempted to use a Taser to deter the animal before the officer fired his weapon. newsfactsnetwork.com · internewscast.com
- [● 2 SOURCES] Officers entered the pasture while assisting a bloodhound team in a search for a missing 12-year-old girl. newsfactsnetwork.com · internewscast.com