Police
Was the Jerame Reid police shooting in New Jersey justified?
Was police shooting of Jerame Reid in Bridgeton, New Jersey justified?
After a new video was released showing the fatal encounter between Bridgeton, NJ police officers and Jerame Reid, questions are being raised on whether the shooting was justified.
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Jerame Reid, and driver Leroy Tutt were stopped on Dec. 30th by police officers Braheme Days and Roger Worley during a routine traffic stop.
In the video, released by the Bridgeton Police Department, Reid is seen appearing to push his way out of the car with his hands apparently in front of him after Days ordered him not to move.
Jerame Reid Police Shooting
Just before the shooting, Officer Days is heard saying there is a gun in the car.
“We’ve got a gun in this glove compartment!”Days says
“I ain’t got no reason to reach for nothing, bro, I ain’t got no reason to reach for nothing,” Reid is heard responding as Days continues to yell to his partner that Reid is reaching for something.
“I’m getting out and getting on the ground,” Days is heard telling the officer before indeed opening the car door and stepping out.
Days, while shouting, takes several steps back before opening fire upon Reid as he stands with two hands — appearing empty — in the air. Worley appears to fire off his handgun as well.
In the case of deadly force used by police, the guidelines are “pretty specific,” according to John Eastlack, a Cherry Hill-based attorney told NJ.com
“It’s an objective reasonableness test,” he said. “If a police officer objectively and reasonably feels he is placed in risk of death or personal injury, a police officer is allowed to use deadly force.”
J.C. Lore, a professor at Rutgers School of Law after reviewing the video told NJ.com he saw what could be perceived as “progressive steps that could put the officer in danger.”
“I think there were obvious reasons why the officer felt he needed to defend himself,” he said. “It’s a normal thought process. You can think ‘they’ve already told me there’s a gun in the car, there could be other guns stashed in other locations.'”
After the new video was released, the question remains whether the shooting was justified. Both officers have been placed on leave while the Cumberland County prosecutor’s office investigates.
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