A Georgia police officer who fatally shot a young donkey after saying the animal “charged” at officers has been identified, with newly reviewed records detailing why he said he opened fire.
Cedartown Police Department Officer Trenton Garner shot and killed the donkey, named Heehaw, on Saturday night while assisting a bloodhound team in the search for a missing 12-year-old girl, according to an incident report reviewed by Our News Outlet.
Garner, 24, wrote that he and other officers were following footprints along a trail when the search led them into a pasture owned by Elsberry Riding and Farm, a local business known for petting zoos, pony rides and trail rides.
Citing the “exigency of locating this missing juvenile,” officers entered the pasture, where they soon encountered horses that became “spooked” and ran off, the report states.
Moments later, a K-9 handler reported seeing a donkey before the animal “began to charge at us,” Garner wrote in his account of the incident.
The K-9 handler first used a Taser in an effort to “deter” the bottle-fed donkey, but when that failed to stop the animal, Garner said he unholstered his Glock 17 and aimed it at Heehaw.
Garner, who joined the Cedartown force in July 2023, said he fired a single round at the male donkey, which then “retreat[ed] up the hill before falling over,” according to the report.
In the report, Garner said he discharged his weapon to protect himself, the K-9 officer and the bloodhound team from the young animal.
Heehaw, a bottle-fed baby donkey, was fatally shot by a Georgia police officer late Saturday night
Cedartown Police Department Officer Trenton Garner has been identified as the cop who pulled the trigger. He detailed the incident in a police report reviewed by Our News Outlet
After Heehaw was down, Garner said he informed his sergeant and the animal’s owner.
Hannah Israel, Heehaw’s devastated owner, then told him that ‘she bottle fed the donkey from the time of infancy’ and that he had an approximate value of $6,000 because of that, Garner documented.
Israel went on to tell him that her now-deceased animal ‘would never act aggressive towards anyone, nor would it try to bite anyone,’ he said.
Garner said that a drone launched by the Rockmart Fire Department that was flying overhead at the time captured the incident involving Heehaw.
The young girl was later found ‘in the direction that we were tracking with the bloodhound before the donkey attacked the tracking team,’ according to Garner.
After news broke of Heehaw’s death, the incident quickly became national news.
The Cedartown Police Department later issued a statement about the ordeal.
‘Late Saturday night, into early Sunday morning, an officer with the Cedartown Police Department responded to a request for assistance from the Polk County Police Department in searching for a missing child,’ Cedartown Police Chief Jamie Newsome said.
The officer, who was sworn onto the force in July 2023, said he fired his Glock 17 at the animal in order to protect himself, his fellow officer, and a bloodhound team that was there. (Pictured: Him and his wife at his swearing in ceremony)
MORE STORY: Lindsay Clancy’s Hidden Wheelchair Message Sparks Outrage
‘During that search, it is with a heavy heart that I report a Cedartown police officer shot and killed a donkey that was in its own pasture.
‘I cannot imagine the grief and frustration that the tragic loss of Heehaw has caused, but I want our community to know what we are doing now,’ he added.
Newsome said he has been in contact with the Georgia Department of Agriculture’s law enforcement division, which is now conducting its own investigation into the deadly shooting.
He also shared that Garner has been placed on administrative leave, pending the outcome of the investigation.
‘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 concluded.
After her beloved donkey was killed, Israel created a GoFundMe page to raise money in honor of Heehaw.
‘My bottle baby donkey “HeeHaw” was killed in his own pasture on Saturday night by trespassing cops. He was a loved member of our family and did many petting zoos and made many people smile,’ she wrote.
The donations will go to a foundation in Heehaw’s name and will also be used to care for the other farm animals.
Hannah Israel, Heehaw’s devastated owner, told Garner that her now-deceased animal ‘would never act aggressive towards anyone, nor would it try to bite anyone,’ he said
Cedartown Police Chief Jamie Newsome said he has been in contact with the Georgia Department of Agriculture’s law enforcement division, which is now conducting its own investigation into the deadly shooting
In an update posted on Wednesday, she remembered her donkey as ‘our bottle baby.’ More than $118,000 has been raised in his honor
In an update posted on Wednesday, she remembered her donkey as ‘our bottle baby.’
‘He grew up here on our farm, right in our home in the early days. He greeted everyone who came near his pasture, brought so much joy to the kids at petting zoos, and was truly part of our family.
‘Losing him the way we did has broken my heart in a way I am still trying to hold together,’ she said.
Israel thanked everyone who has donated. As of Thursday morning, more than $118,000 had been raised.
Our News Outlet contacted Garner, Israel, and the Cedartown Police Department for comment.
