Georgia officer shoots, kills baby donkey ‘HeeHaw’ during missing child search

GEORGIA ( WRBL ) — The Georgia Department of Agriculture is investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of a baby donkey that was shot in Polk County early Sunday morning.

According to the Cedartown Police Department, an officer was searching for a child who was reported missing on Saturday. The child was later found at a nearby church.

“During that search, it is with heavy heart that I report a Cedartown police officer shot and killed a donkey that was in its own pasture,” said Chief Jamie Newsome in a video posted to Facebook . “I cannot imagine the grief and frustration that the tragic loss of HeeHaw has caused.”

The donkey’s owner, Hannah Israel, posted about HeeHaw’s death on social media, alleging the officers entered the pasture “WITHOUT permission or warning.”

“They claimed he ran up to them braying and they thought they were in danger and shot and killed him after trying to taze him,” Israel wrote.

“He was a loved member of our family and did many petting zoos and made many people smile,” she added on GoFundMe.

Newsome said the Georgia Department of Agriculture’s Law Enforcement division is conducting an independent investigation into the shooting. Due to the nature of the investigation, neither the Cedartown Police Department nor the Polk County Police Department could comment further on the case.

The officer responsible for the shooting has been placed on paid administrative leave, pending the investigation’s results, the police chief said.

“I ask everyone to join us in prayer for everyone who has been impacted by this tragic event, but give time for the investigation to be completed,” Newsome said.