VIDEO: Police Shoot Pet Donkey — Cop’s Video Hidden?

A Georgia police officer shot and killed a family’s baby donkey during a midnight search on private land, and now the owners want the body-camera video released.

Story Snapshot

The donkey, HeeHaw, was killed during a late-night search for a missing child.
The owner says officers entered the pasture without permission around 12:45 a.m..
The police chief confirmed body-camera video exists but declined to describe it.
The officer is on administrative leave while the case is investigated.

What Happened In The Pasture

Police from Cedartown searched a Polk County property after midnight while looking for a missing 12-year-old. The family says officers entered their fenced pasture without permission around 12:45 a.m.

During that search, an officer shot and killed HeeHaw, a bottle-raised miniature donkey the family treated like a pet. City officials confirmed the shooting and placed the officer on leave pending an investigation. Local outlets reported the search context and the leave decision the same day.

SHOCK: GEORGIA COPS TRESPASS onto PROPERTY — then SHOOT DEAD BABY DONKEY during MISSING PERSON SEARCH

HEEHAW TAZED before OFFICER OPENED FIRE and KILLED him — COP FELT ‘THREATENED’

OFFICER PUT ON LEAVE pic.twitter.com/rdeb59hTV8

— The World Watch ⛨ (@WorldWatchGoat) September 1, 2026

Owner Hannah Israel said the officers later told her the donkey ran toward them while braying, that they tried a Taser, and then one officer fired. She maintains HeeHaw posed no threat and would approach people for treats and scratches.

Multiple outlets quoted from her account, drawn from her public posts and interviews after the incident. The City of Cedartown has not offered a detailed account of the shooting while the investigation is ongoing.

What Police Confirmed And Withheld

Cedartown Police Chief Jamie Newsome said body-camera video exists and that he viewed it. He declined to say what the video shows, citing the case’s transfer to a state agency. When asked if the officer said he feared for his life, the chief answered no.

He also said he did not ask the officer why he fired, again citing the active handoff to the state for review. That narrow set of on-record answers leaves the public with the family’s detailed account and little else so far.

The city acknowledged the incident and the leave status but offered no timeline for releasing video or findings. That silence fits a common pattern in Georgia.

Body-camera footage usually stays sealed during an active probe. Agencies often release it only after a case is closed or when law allows and redactions are done.

State guidance indicates that closed-case footage is subject to disclosure, while active-case footage may be withheld until an investigation concludes.

Property Rights, Police Discretion, And The Missing Child Search

Searches for missing children move fast and can cross onto private land. Officers often face pressure to act quickly at odd hours. That pressure does not cancel basic property rights or animal handling.

If officers entered a pasture at night without notifying the owner, that choice warrants review, even if a missing-child search was urgent. Clear rules and better training can protect both the search and the rights of property owners who keep livestock and pets.

Two things are clear here: the sanctity of private property and responsible, accountable government. The first calls for respect when crossing fences and dealing with animals that live there. The second demands a clear record after force is used, even against an animal.

A midnight pasture search can be justified by urgency, but a shooting on private land must be explained in full, and soon, so trust does not erode further.

Why The Video Matters And How To Get Answers

Body-camera video will likely decide public judgment. If the donkey charged and the officer had no other safe option, the video should show it. If the approach looked like a curious pet closing in on a pasture, that would be clear too.

Georgia’s open-records structure often delays release until a case closes, but it does not block release forever. Citizens can file requests and push for a prompt, unedited release once the law allows.

🚨UPDATE: STATEMENT FROM THE CITY OF CEDARTOWN

The Cedartown Police Department is aware that a city police officer shot and killed a donkey in the early hours of Sunday morning.

A Cedartown police officer was on the scene after being called by Polk County Police to assist… pic.twitter.com/pLH2ypPCqQ

— Amy Leigh (@IAmyLeigh) September 1, 2026

The family, the city, and the community all benefit from sunlight here. One video can close rumor loops fast. While the case is active, the most credible facts are simple: the officer shot the donkey during a missing child search; the chief saw the video but will not describe it yet; the officer did not say he feared for his life; the owner says officers entered without permission and that HeeHaw was not a threat. Those items deserve a fast, documented resolution.