A Virginia family’s doorbell camera captured a disturbing encounter between a delivery driver and their pet cat. Now, an update has emerged about the incident that has been circulating on social media.
The video, recorded Sunday, Oct. 25, shows a delivery worker appearing to deliberately throw a package at a black cat named Opie as he lounged on the front porch of his Virginia Beach home.
According to WAVY, the 21-pound cat was sunbathing when a GOFO delivery driver approached the home and threw a package bag in his direction, hitting him.
The footage also appears to show the driver smiling after striking the cat.
Opie’s owner, Isabell Sump, told the news station that her cat had done nothing to provoke the encounter.
“He’s typically a very carefree cat,” Sump said. “He doesn’t bother anybody unless they give him a reason.”
Sump said she was upset after reviewing the Ring camera footage, especially because the incident happened just days before Halloween. Since Opie is a black cat, she expressed concern about how black cats are sometimes treated around the holiday.
As the footage spread online, the incident drew widespread attention, with viewers expressing outrage over the driver’s behavior.
“That cat was not bothering anyone,” one commenter wrote on WAVY’s Instagram post showing the incident.
“Bro, don’t you know everything is literally recorded? Every single house has ring cameras,” another viewer commented.
Delivery Driver Returns to Apologize After Viral Cat Video
Now, a new development has emerged in Opie’s story.
Sump confirmed to WAVY on Wednesday, Oct. 28, that the delivery driver had returned to her home and apologized for the incident. However, she still questioned why the driver had thrown the package at her cat in the first place.
Sump said that if the driver had felt uncomfortable approaching Opie, he could have left the package elsewhere on the property instead of throwing it at the animal. She also told WAVY that GOFO had contacted her about the incident and said the company was investigating the driver’s conduct.
Sump had previously expressed her intention to pursue criminal charges once authorities identified the driver. As of WAVY’s latest report, it remained unclear whether any charges had been filed.
The incident has also raised concerns about the safety of black cats around Halloween. Sump said she was glad the footage had received attention because of the treatment black cats can face during this time of year.
Although the driver’s apology marks a new development, questions remain about what consequences, if any, he may face.
For now, Opie’s story serves as a reminder that even an ordinary package delivery can become a viral news story when a doorbell camera captures an unexpected incident.
Leave a Reply