Police shoot and kill family donkey during suspect chase in Georgia

CEDAR TOWN, Ga. — Police in Georgia fatally shot a family pet donkey while pursuing a burglary suspect on a rural property near the Alabama border, the incident drawing sharp criticism on social media. The shooting occurred shortly after 12:45 a.m. local time on a farm property in Cedar Town, where officers chased a suspect who had entered the family land, according to the animal's owner, identified as Hannah. Hannah said officers first attempted to subdue the donkey, named Hei How, with a Taser before the animal began running toward them and braying, prompting them to open fire. The family said they had raised the donkey as a pet and that it had participated in zoo events. Hannah described the loss in emotional terms, saying, "Our hearts are broken, he was like my son." Cedar Town city officials placed the officer who fired the weapon on administrative leave but released no further details about the incident. The burglary suspect's status was not immediately disclosed. On Facebook, users demanded the release of body camera footage and called for accountability. The Cedar Town Police Department has not publicly addressed the calls.