INDIANAPOLIS (WTHR) — 13News has received numerous messages from people asking about Wednesday’s police action shooting that killed Dreasjon Reed.
Some of those questions and online comments involve the shooting itself and whether Reed was armed.
“I know there has been much speculation online,” said IMPD Chief Randal Taylor during a news conference Thursday.
Both Taylor and Assistant Chief Chris Bailey explained what police evidence shows so far.
“Initial information indicates the officer deployed his taser which appeared to be ineffective. An exchange of gunfire between officer and suspect ensued,” Bailey said.
Police said a gun was recovered from the scene near Reed’s body and Taylor said it is “reasonable to believe” it was Reed’s.
“It is a distinct-looking gun with an orange slide and elongated brick. We are aware of photos showing (Reed) holding a similar distinct-looking weapon on social media sites,” Chief Taylor said.
Investigators on the scene near 62nd Street and Michigan Road recovered 15 shell casings from two guns, according to Taylor.
“The magazines of both guns show bullets had been fired,” he said. “It appears the gun found near the individual was fired at least twice.”
The officer involved in the altercation, who is black, is on administrative leave. That is standard procedure.
Prior to the shooting, police had attempted to pull Reed over. Reed streamed part of the incident on a Facebook Live. The live stream includes the shooting.
In the video, which has been removed from Facebook but uploaded to other social media and online platforms, at least 12 to 15 gunshots can be heard before someone says “police action shooting.”
13News asked the Marion County Coroner’s Office how many times Reed was struck. A spokesperson said that information would be included in the final autopsy report and given to Reed’s family.