JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Loved ones of Justin Reed, 34, who died after being shot by two JSO officers on Wednesday night, say they’re holding a vigil for Reed on Friday evening.
The community is demanding answers.
“This man was concerned about his family, concerned about his woman, concerned about his children, and he did what so many of us would do,” said Jacksonville activist, Ben Frazier.
Family says Reed was supposed to marry his fiancé next month, and tells Action News Jax he leaves behind four children.
JSO says the shooting officers were inside a parked car investigating a local gang, and waiting for another group of investigators to arrive, when Reed approached their vehicle. The car was parked on the 500 block of East 63rd Street, where Reed’s family says he lived.
While holding a semiautomatic rifle, police say Reed approached the parked car, hit the car with the butt-end of his gun, and pointed the gun at the officers. Police then got out, and opened fire.
READ: Jacksonville officers shoot, kill armed man near Panama Park
Police said officers performed aid on Reed before rescue arrived. They say Reed was taken to a local hospital, where he was pronounced deceased.
Surveillance video appears to show the officers sitting in an unmarked car. In the news briefing following the shooting, investigators did not mention the officers' car being unmarked, as it was only described as a ‘vehicle.’
Reed’s loved ones say he didn’t know who was inside the car. They say Reed was trying to protect his family by inspecting the unfamiliar car outside of his home.
Activist Ben Frazier wants to know why there’s no body camera video of the shooting.
“It is absolutely despicable and heinous that they would go to this incident, this investigation, and not have those body cameras turned on,” said Frazier.
Frazier is also raising questions to police about the amount of time it took for aid to be rendered to Reed, and feels officers should have alerted Reed’s household to their presence prior to the shooting.
“Why wouldn’t you tell these people who were not under investigation, that you were sitting out there in front of their yard, blocking their driveway, because you were there for an investigation involving other people?” said Frazier.
The surveillance video obtained by Action News Jax does not have sound. We’ve asked police if officers identified themselves before the shooting, but JSO says no additional details can be released at this time.
We’ve reached out to JSO asking why there is no body camera video in this case, and why JSO did not mention the shooting officers being in an unmarked car in the initial news briefing. We’ll be sure to update you with the reply.
JSO says both shooting officers, G.A. Taylor and M.L. Mullis., are on administrative leave.