Police chief condemns cop caught saying 'I think it's going to be a closed casket, homie' after officers shot and killed a man, 21 - the third death at the hands of Indianapolis police in 24 hours which included a pregnant mother-of-three(18 Pics)
The Indianapolis chief of police denounced a detective's comment about a 'closed casket' after a 21-year-old man was shot and killed by officers on Wednesday during a high-speed chase that was streamed on Facebook Live.
Dreasjon 'Sean' Reed was gunned down just hours before police fatally shot another man and ran over a pregnant pedestrian, sparking massive protests in Indianapolis.
Events surrounding Reed's death were broadcast in real time on Facebook, including comments by a responding detective who is heard saying: 'I think it's going to be a closed casket, homie,' an apparent reference to a closed-casket funeral.
'Let me be clear, these comments are unacceptable and unbecoming of our police department,' Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Chief Randal Taylor told reporters during a news conference Thursday.
Dreasjon 'Sean' Reed, 21, was shot dead while running from police as he streamed a video of the chase on Facebook Live on Wednesday afternoon
In this Thursday photo, Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Chief Randal Taylor, center, listens to family of Dreasjon Reed during a protest on Michigan Road in Indianapolis
'We'll be pursing immediate disciplinary action against that officer,' Taylor added, going to great lengths to assure the investigations into all of the deaths will be thorough and transparent.
'I hope you understand that I'm one that is willing to acknowledge that if we made mistakes here, we will address them,' he said.
'But let the investigation run its course before we jump to conclusions - either on our side or on the community's side.'
Meanwhile, on Friday, Marion County Prosecutor Ryan Mears requested that an independent prosecutor take over the Reed case, citing Taylor's personal involvement in the high-speed chase, reported WISH-TV.
Chief Taylor and Deputy Chief Kendale Adams began pursuing Reed in their unmarked vehicles along Interstate 65 after noticing him speeding and driving recklessly.
Taylor and Adams quit the chase once marked patrol cars responded to the scene.
'He will undoubtedly be a material witness in this case,' Mears said of the chief.
Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett this afternoon tweeted out a statement, asking the the United States Attorney’s Office and the FBI to 'actively monitor' the investigation into the officer-involved shooting.
'While I continue to have confidence in Chief Randal Taylor and IMPD’s ability to carry out fair and thorough investigations, it is clear to me that more must be done to provide community confidence in the outcome of those processes,' Hogsett stated.
Protesters listen during a rally outside of the City County Building in Indianapolis on Thursday
People march on Michigan Road before the vigil for Sean Reed in Indianapolis on Thursday
'Through this monitoring, in conjunction with an ongoing investigation by the Marion County Prosecutor’s Office, we reaffirm our commitment to a transparent criminal and civil review of these incidents and the conduct of those officers involved.
'Importantly, it is my hope that our city may also reaffirm its dedication to channeling the sadness and anger felt by so many into displays of peaceful protest.'
On Thursday, protesters crowded the streets of Indianapolis decrying the shootings of Reed and McHale Rose, 19, and the death of a pregnant woman, 23-year-old Ashlynn Lisby, who was struck by a police vehicle. Lisby's baby could not be saved.
Officials said both Reed and Rose exchanged gunfire with officers, adding that the second shooting early Thursday morning could have been an ambush on police.
Police did not have body camera or dash camera footage of either shooting. Both of the men were black, as were most of the protesters.
Lisby, who was white, was walking along an expressway ramp when an officer driving to work struck her with his vehicle.
According to her Facebook posts, Lisby was a single mother of three who worked for FedEx. She is survived by her young son and two daughters.
Community members gather for a vigil and protest over Reed's fatal shooting on Thursday
Reggie Jones marches on Thursday while protesting the fatal shooting of Reed by Indianapolis police on Wednesday following a pursuit
People bow their heads for a moment of silence during the vigil for Reed in Indianapolis on Thursday
Protesters converged on the first shooting scene Wednesday night, and dozens more gathered Thursday at the City County Building in downtown Indianapolis.
Many wore face masks aimed at reducing the spread of the coronavirus and at times shouted, 'No justice, no peace.'
Several carried Black Lives Matter flags and signs.
Protests began after video of the events leading up to Reed's shooting appeared on Facebook.
The video, which appears to have been recorded by Reed, shows him being pursued by police both in his car and on foot before incoherent shouting and popping sounds are heard.
Protesters crowded the streets of Indianapolis on Thursday to voice concerns about police treatment after officers shot and killed two men, including Reed, and fatally struck a pregnant pedestrian in three separate incidents just hours apart
Deja Morse sits on the roof of a car during a community vigil and protest in Indianapolis on Thursday
As a car does a burnout, a man yells to police from the top of a car during the vigil and protest
Reed was fatally shot by Indianapolis police on Wednesday following a pursuit. The incident was livestreamed on Facebook
A protester holds a sign outside of the City County Building in Indianapolis on Thursday
Later came the detective's comment, which also was broadcast live on social media.
Taylor, the police chief, said Thursday that the detective was not present when the shooting happened.
Reed's father, Jamie Reed, said he had seen the video and was 'crushed' by its contents.
'It just shows me that we´re not really being protected and served. We're being hunted,' he told reporters at Thursday's protest.
'My son was a great son. I love him to death. He was just a typical young adult like anybody else. He didn't deserve to die like that.'
In an interview with TMZ, Jamie Reed insisted that his son did not fire a gun at the police, claiming that the video showed Sean running with his T-shirt in one hand and his cellphone in the other.
The father also pointed out that police tasered his son first before using deadly force, arguing that if Sean was armed and pointing a gun at them, they would have shot him without deploying the Taser.
Jamie Reed, Sean's father (pictured left and right), insisted that his son did not shoot at police. He said he was 'crushed' after seeing the Facebook Live video
'I want justice,' the elder Reed demanded. 'I don't want my son to be no statistic.'
Relatives said Reed had recently left the United States Air Force.
Military records show he served less than a year, in 2017. Details of separations cannot be released under privacy rules.
Reed's shooting happened around 6pm on Wednesday after a pursuit that began when officers, including Taylor, observed someone driving recklessly on Interstate 65, police said.
Video shows that at one point after police stop pursuing him, Reed laughs and cheers.
'I'm not going to jail today!' he shouts.
Moments later, he appears unsure where he has driven and says in the recording, 'Please come get me. Please come get me!'
Supervisors ordered an end to that pursuit because the vehicle was going nearly 90 mph, police said.
An officer later spotted the car on a city street before being parked, then chased Reed on foot, Assistant Chief Chris Bailey said.
According to police, the officer first tried to use a stun gun, then shot Reed as they exchanged gunfire.
Bailey said it appears that a gun found near Reed had been fired at least twice.
Taylor called the gun 'distinct-looking with an orange slide and elongated grip' and said photos on social media show Reed holding a similar weapon.
The man in the video was identified by family members as 21-year-old Sean Reed (pictured)
McHale Rose, 19, was shot and killed in the early morning hours on Thursday after police alleged he shot at officers while in the middle of a burglary
Pictured: Ashlynn Lisby, 23, a single mother of three with a fourth baby on the way, was struck and killed by an Indianapolis police officer just hours after Reed's death
The officer who shot Reed is black, The Indianapolis Star reported, and he has been placed on administrative leave.
The second shooting happened about eight hours later, as police investigated a burglary at an apartment complex.
Police said a man armed with a rifle shot at four officers as they approached the apartment about 1.30am on Thursday.
Taylor said the initial investigation suggests that Rose 'may have made the call with the intention of initiating an ambush-style attack on the officers when they arrived.'
Between the shootings, Officer Jonathon Henderson, a 22-year veteran, struck Lisby with his vehicle.
Police said Henderson requested help and rendered first aid to the woman. Lisby was pronounced dead at a hospital.
The Greater Indianapolis NAACP said in a statement Thursday that it was monitoring information about the shootings.
'All of us are trying to make a new normal in an un-normal time. Incidents like these do not help restore normalcy to our community,' said Chrystal Ratcliffe, president of the NAACP branch.
Police chief condemns cop caught saying 'I think it's going to be a closed casket, homie' after officers shot and killed a man, 21 - the third death at the hands of Indianapolis police in 24 hours which included a pregnant mother-of-three(18 Pics)
![Police chief condemns cop caught saying 'I think it's going to be a closed casket, homie' after officers shot and killed a man, 21 - the third death at the hands of Indianapolis police in 24 hours which included a pregnant mother-of-three(18 Pics)]()
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May 09, 2020
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