№00198

Modesto Reyes

Modesto Reyes, 35, was shot and killed by police in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana.

In May 2020, police tried to pull Reyes’ vehicle over but he refused to stop his car. Police started a chase. Reyes stopped his car and tried to run away from officers. He tripped and fell. Two deputies approached him and tried to handcuff him. Reyes allegedly turned over and pulled a gun on deputies. They shot him. He died at the scene.

An independent autopsy showed that Reyes had been shot twice in the back. This contradicts the police version of facts. Witnesses claim that Reyes had a cell phone in his hands, which officers mistakenly identified as a weapon.

In May 2021, Reyes’ family filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the city and the police department, alleging that they could use less lethal methods to resolve the conflict.

СМИ

MASS MEDIA ABOUT THE CASE:

The lawsuit claims Reyes “made no threatening or aggressive movements” towards police.
WWLTV

“On behalf of the Reyes family, we question why did one of the two deputies make the decision to use non-lethal force in his apprehension of Mr. Reyes and the other decide to use lethal force?” the family’s lawyers wrote in a statement.
Nola.com

FILES

CASE STATUS:

The initiative group has requested the clarification from US President Joseph Biden and Attorney General Merrick Garland. The initiative group believes it is important to fight against police brutality and, if necessary, will provide legal and financial assistance to the family of the victim.