‘It was reckless’: Family says dog was shot by Amazon driver stopped at wrong house

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WBRC/Gray News) - A family in Alabama is seeking answers after they said their dog was shot by an Amazon delivery driver.

Rose Kirk said Sunday night started normally for herself and her children until they saw an Amazon truck parked at their home.

The family’s two dogs, Solar and Lunar, were lying in chairs on the porch before things took a turn for the worse.

“The next thing I know, I just heard a gunshot right by my front door, and I heard my dog make that little sound,” she said.

Kirk said found out Solar had been shot when she investigated the sounds.

According to local police, the Amazon driver shot the dog in self defense. However, Kirk said that was not the case. She said the Amazon driver noticed the dogs and continued walking to the home’s front door.

“If you notice dogs, why are you steadily walking toward the dog if they’re a threat to you?” Kirk said. “If I don’t know a dog, I’m not going to go near it.”

After the driver reportedly shot Solar while his sister Lunar watched, their owner said she didn’t even know why the driver stopped at her home.

“When I saw all the blood dripping from my dog, and I was like, my dog was on a leash. He was on a chain,” Kirk said. “Why would you come up on my porch? Both of them were sitting in their chairs. He noticed them, but instead of backing off, he did not back off. Suppose he had a package to deliver, which I never ordered a package. He had no reason to be on my property.”

Kirk said the bullet entered Solar’s shoulder and exited through his chest. He now is suffering from internal bleeding, and his operations will cost the family thousands of dollars.

Officials said no charges will be filed against the driver.

“That was reckless,” Kirk said. “You can see where the bullet ricocheted, and it was right by our door.”

The family said both of the dogs were rescues from the Birmingham Humane Society that they adopted in 2017.

“The lady at the shelter says the rest of them were separated, so I took them in, and they’ve been our love,” Kirk said. “They did nothing wrong. They were at their home.”

Kirk said Lunar is now concerned for her brother.

“She’s been crying every time she hears a dog cry outside; she thinks it’s Solar,” Kirk said. “I have to tell her that it’s not him and he’s not here, but she doesn’t understand.”

A spokesperson from Amazon said it is against their policy for drivers to carry weapons.

In a statement, the spokesperson said the company is in contact with the family and the driver is no longer employed by them.

The family said they’re grateful Solar is still alive, but the dog is expected to have a long road to recovery.

A GoFundMe has been created to help pay for any medical expenses.

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