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Officer suspended for 'closed casket' comment caught on video during officer-involved shooting

Dreasjon Reed.JPG
Posted at 12:19 PM, May 14, 2020
and last updated 2020-05-14 19:09:06-04

INDIANAPOLIS — An Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department officer has been disciplined for comments he made that were captured on a Facebook Live video after a deadly officer-involved shooting last week.

The comments were made following the fatal shooting of Dreasjon Reed, 21, by an IMPD officer on May 6.

WATCH | Mother of Drasjon Reed speaks out for first time following son's death

Reed was streaming live on Facebook as he led police on a chase. The stream continued when Reed exited his vehicle near 62nd Street and Michigan Road and confronted officers. Police say gunfire was exchanged and several shots could be heard over the live stream, which did not capture any video of the actual shooting.

After the gunfire ended, one officer can be heard making a comment at the scene that appeared to include the words: "It's going to be a closed casket, homie," before the video live stream was stopped by a detective at the scene.

READ | Family remembers Dreasjon Reed | Man killed in shooting with IMPD live-streamed chase, moments leading up to his death

The officer's identity is not being released, but IMPD say the officer involved is an African-American man.

The officer received a suspension and a re-assignment of his duties. The exact details of the suspension and re-assignment are not being releasd for the officer's safety, according to IMPD.

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