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Sean Reed was killed by police in Indianapolis. Reed graduated from U.S. Air Force basic training a few years ago.

Sean Reed Killed by Police in Indianapolis

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A 21-year-old Black man was killed by police in Indianapolis on Wednesday. The victim‘s family and friends identified the man as Dreasjon Reed, who was commonly known as Sean. 

Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department faces growing questions after killing 3 people in the matter of 8 hours. The deaths included two shootings and an officer who struck and killed a pregnant woman with his vehicle. 

According to a police report, Sean Reed was spotted for “driving recklessly” in a grey Toyota Corolla at approximately 6 p.m. Deputy Chief for IMPD Kendale Adams and police chief Randal Taylor began pursuing the driver in separate unmarked vehicles. 

Adams and Taylor removed themselves as marked cars arrived in the pursuit as is standard procedure, said the police report.

At around 6:10 p.m., the pursuit was terminated by the Sergeant who was monitoring the pursuit. Officers allegedly backed away from the vehicle and disengaged emergency equipment.

The police report said just before 6:16 p.m., a Northwest Indianapolis district officer observed the grey Toyota Corolla pull into the rear of a business.

According to the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department, the driver jumped out of the vehicle. The report said a short foot pursuit occurred East bound from the location. 

Then, after the victim reportedly ignored commands to stop, the officer deployed a taser. According to the report, “It appears the taser was ineffective, and an exchange of gunfire between the driver and the officer followed. The driver was struck by the gunfire.”

Sean Reed was pronounced dead at the scene. 

The police chase was streamed live on Facebook by Reed. After Reed was tased, his phone falls to the ground. Reed is no longer visible. At least 13 gunshots can be heard. 

After the victim is fatally shot, officers are heard laughing. One officer is heard saying, “it looks like it’s going to be a closed casket.”

You are about the hear the audio from the end of Facebook stream. We warn you, the listener, that the following content is graphic. 

The audio is taken from Now This.

Sean Reed’s sister, Jazmine Reed, commented on the shooting of her brother to WTHR.

Almost 200 Indianapolis residents gathered Monument Circle on Thursday to mourn the death of Sean Reed in a prayer vigil and protest. 

Vehicles blocked the intersection of West 62nd Street and Michigan Road, where the shooting took place the night before. Many protestors wore face masks. Some protestors stayed in their vehicles, hanging out of their windows and sunroofs as they remembered Sean Reed.  

Protestors chanted and shouted in demonstration against overuse of police power.

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Randal Taylor, Chief of the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department, gave a press conference about the three recent deaths by IMPD officers.

Our city had a tragic, challenging evening last night,” he said. “Each of these incidents will be investigated thoroughly.”

Deputy Chief Chris Bailey said a loaded gun was found near the victim.

“A loaded gun was found and recovered belonging to the deceased person,” he said.

After online speculation that the gun was not Reed’s, IMPD Chief Taylor said it’s reasonable to believe it was the victim’s weapon. Taylor addressed the online speculation.

“While we continue to process the scene, I believe it’s reasonable to believe this gun was the individuals,” he said.

Furthermore, Taylor addressed the inappropriate comments made by a detective following the shooting.

“Let me be clear,” he said, “these comments are unacceptable and unbecoming of our police department.”

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The American Civil Liberties Union of Indiana called for a transparent and independent investigation in the wake of the fatal police shooting.

ACLU of Indiana said in a statement,“We join many in the community by calling for a prompt, thorough, and transparent investigation into the deadly shooting of Dreasjon Reed. The public deserves to get a detailed account of why this man was shot and what actions Indianapolis Police took to avoid yet another fatal shooting.”

ACLU said,“We see time and time again that excessive force by police disproportionately impacts black and brown community members. Law enforcement in Indiana should treat all communities with dignity, employ restraint on police power, and use only the degree of force necessary to maintain the community’s safety.”

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The victim’s father, Jamie Reed, told the Indy Star that he was crushed by the things he saw and heard. 

He said, “It just shows me that we’re not really being protected and served. We’re being hunted. 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.” 

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