Georgia Officer Identified in Baby Donkey Shooting, Report Gives His Reason

Officer Named in the Shooting

An incident report reviewed by the Daily Mail identifies Cedartown Police Department Officer Trenton Garner as the officer who fatally shot a baby donkey named HeeHaw in Georgia. Garner had been called to assist a bloodhound team searching for a missing 12-year-old girl. According to the report, officers entered a pasture owned by Elsberry Riding and Farm because of the “exigency of locating this missing juvenile.” The business offers petting zoos, pony rides, and trail rides. The search for a child was serious, but the death of a family animal in its own pasture has raised hard questions about judgment, training, and accountability.

What the Report Says Happened

The report says officers were met by horses that became frightened and ran farther into the pasture. Garner then claimed HeeHaw charged at the officers. A K-9 handler tased the donkey, according to the report. When that allegedly did not work, Garner drew his Glock 17 and shot the animal. Garner said he did so to protect himself, the K-9 officer, and the team of bloodhounds. The report also says Garner later told his sergeant and the animal’s owner what had happened. That is the official account now under review, and it is the account the public will expect investigators to test carefully.

The Owner’s Account

Farm owner Hannah Israel previously said police entered her family’s pasture without permission or warning and killed HeeHaw after seeing him as a threat. In a Facebook post, Israel wrote, “At 12:45 am cops entered my pasture searching for a missing person WITHOUT permission or warning and shot and killed my bottle-raised BABY donkey.” She added, “HeeHaw was raised in the house and did petting zoos; he never knew a stranger. And was shot and killed in his OWN pasture for doing what donkeys do. Alerting to a stranger.” Israel also wrote, “There is no way this is legal! I will be taking legal action.” Her account paints HeeHaw as a gentle farm animal, not a danger to trained officers.

Department Places Garner on Leave

The Cedartown Police Department has placed Garner on leave and is investigating the shooting. That step does not settle what happened, but it does confirm the matter is serious enough for review. A missing child search can involve urgent decisions, and officers may face uncertain conditions. Still, urgency does not erase the need to explain why a baby donkey in a family pasture ended up dead. The facts now rest with the incident report, the officer’s stated reason, the owner’s public account, and the department’s investigation.

WE’D LOVE TO HEAR YOUR THOUGHTS! PLEASE COMMENT BELOW.