A Georgia police officer is now on leave after a family’s beloved donkey was shot and killed during a search. HeeHaw was in his own pasture when officers arrived — but what happened next remains fiercely disputed. Why was the one-year-old donkey seen as a threat? And what happened just before the fatal shot? The unanswered questions are only growing.

by

Georgia Police Officer Placed on Leave After Family’s Pet Donkey Is Shot During Missing-Child Search

Police Chief Issues Statement After Cop Fatally Shoots Donkey

A one-year-old miniature donkey named HeeHaw was shot and killed on a Georgia family’s property while police were searching for a missing 12-year-old girl, sparking outrage and an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the animal’s death.

The shooting happened at about 12:45 a.m. on August 30 at Elsberry Riding and Farm in Rockmart, Georgia, where HeeHaw lived with his owners. The donkey’s owner, Hannah Israel, said officers entered the pasture without notifying the family or obtaining permission while assisting with the overnight search.

According to Israel, HeeHaw approached the unfamiliar people and began braying. She said officers later told her that the donkey appeared to pose a threat and that an officer attempted to use a Taser before shooting him.

The missing child was ultimately found at a church near the pasture, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Owner Says HeeHaw Was a Family Pet

Georgia cop kills beloved pet donkey in his own pasture as heartbroken owner demands justice: 'We miss him' | NEWS RADIO KOTA-AM 1380AM/100.7FM

Israel has strongly disputed the suggestion that HeeHaw was aggressive.

She said the donkey had been bottle-raised from the time he was born and was accustomed to being around people. HeeHaw was also taken to petting zoos, where he interacted with children and adults.

“He was very well socialized,” Israel told WSB-TV. “He would go to petting zoos with the kids and adults at nursing homes.”

Israel described HeeHaw as a beloved member of the family and said she was devastated that he was killed in his own pasture.

In a social media post following the shooting, she questioned why the animal had been considered a threat simply for reacting to strangers entering the property.

The incident quickly drew widespread attention online, with supporters calling for answers and using the phrase “Justice for HeeHaw.” A fundraiser launched by Israel initially surpassed $35,000 and later exceeded $80,000 within about 24 hours, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Officer Placed on Administrative Leave

Georgia cop reveals why he shot dead a family's pet donkey | The Independent

Cedartown Police Chief Jamie Newsome confirmed that an officer involved in the shooting was placed on administrative leave while the circumstances were investigated.

The officer was later identified as Trenton Garner. A report obtained by WSB-TV provided his account of the encounter.

Garner said he and K-9 teams from multiple agencies were searching a hill when horses in the pasture became frightened and moved away from the officers. He said a donkey then charged toward him and a K-9 handler.

According to Garner’s report, the handler deployed a Taser, but the animal continued approaching. Garner then drew his department-issued handgun and fired a single round, killing HeeHaw.

No charges had been filed against Garner as of September 4, according to WSB-TV.

Investigation Underway

The Georgia Department of Agriculture’s Law Enforcement Division is investigating the shooting.

Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Tyler Harper said the department would conduct a thorough and impartial investigation and make an appropriate recommendation once it was complete.

Newsome has also expressed sympathy for the family. The police chief said he was “heartbroken” by the incident and acknowledged that HeeHaw was a beloved animal.

The Polk County Sheriff’s Office separately clarified that its deputies were not involved in the shooting. The agency said the law-enforcement organizations involved in the search were the Polk County Police Department and Cedartown Police Department, while offering condolences to the family and others affected.

Owner Wants to See the Evidence

a donkey in a pasture

As questions surrounding the shooting continue, Israel has demanded access to body-camera footage from the encounter.

She told WSB-TV that she wanted to see what threat HeeHaw allegedly presented before he was shot, saying she would be shocked if the donkey had acted aggressively.

The release of Garner’s written account has provided one version of what happened, but the investigation remains ongoing. For Israel and those supporting her, the central question is whether the footage and other evidence will support the officer’s account or provide a different picture of the final moments of HeeHaw’s life.

For now, the case remains under investigation, while the family continues to seek answers over how a search for a missing child ended with the death of a young animal they considered part of their family.