Georgia officer who shot HeeHaw claims he is immune from being sued over donkey's death in new motion – CBS News

Georgia officer who shot HeeHaw claims he is immune from being sued over donkey’s death in new motion  CBS News

A Georgia police officer facing a lawsuit for shooting and killing a family's beloved pet miniature donkey has asked the judge to drop the case, arguing that he is immune from prosecution.In a new motion to dismiss, Officer Trenton Ryan Garner and his attorney argued that he is protected by the legal doctrine known as qualified immunity, which shields officials, including police, from lawsuits for money as a result of things they do in the course of their job.Garner shot HeeHaw the donkey shortly after midnight on Aug. 30 while officers were helping search for a missing 12-year-old girl in Polk County.In a body-camera video obtained by CBS News Atlanta, the donkey is seen galloping toward the officers, who try to back away.

After the shooting, Garner is heard telling dispatch: "Firearm discharged at a donkey. It was trying to attack us in the pasture and on the track." Garner wrote in his incident report that another officer activated a Taser's electrical arc to try to scare the donkey away, but HeeHaw continued approaching. Garner said he fired once, and the donkey turned, moved uphill, and collapsed.HeeHaw's owner, Hannah Michelle Israel, alleges officers entered her fenced pasture without a warrant or permission and shot the donkey without provocation. Her legal complaint against the officer describes HeeHaw as "young, small, and