Just a couple of days before the New Year, police in New Jersey shot and killed a 36-year-old father during a routine traffic stop in Bridgeton.
The man, identified as Jerame Reid, was a passenger in a Jaguar police pulled over around 9:20 p.m. on Dec. 30. Investigators have revealed few details about the shooting or the traffic stop, but witnesses say Reid had his hands in the air when he was fatally shot.
He was rushed to a nearby hospital, but later died.
Tahli Dawkins, who was taking out his recycling at the time of the shooting, told NBC10 he witnessed the incident.
“He had nothing in his hands,” Dawkins said. “He had his hands up trying to get out of the car, one on the door was getting out like this and he just started shooting him.”
Another witness told reporters that Reid was unarmed when he was shot down.
Ben Mosely, a retired sheriff’s deputy, told WPVI-TV he watched the incident from his bedroom window.
He said Reid had gotten out of his car but then tried to get back into the vehicle when officers opened fire, but – based on his own police training — he does not believe the shooting was justified.
“I saw a disarmed man go down to the ground and get shot,” Mosley said. “That’s exactly what I saw.”
Police say they recovered a handgun from the scene. The driver of the Jaguar was taken into custody for questioning. Police did not report any injuries to either of the officers involved.
An investigation continues. Officers Braheme Days and Roger Worley have been placed on administrative leave. Reid leaves behind a 3-month-old son, his cousin Keesha Springs confirmed.
“He was a good kid,” Springs said. “He had a troubled past but after that he became a good person. I love my cousin. Everybody has their bad times and he had his bad times. But he was very lovable.”
We’ll keep you updated with the latest in this shooting investigation.
SOURCE: NBC | PHOTO CREDIT: Screengrab
