Lawsuit settled, Indianapolis PD man fatally shot

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — A wrongful death lawsuit filed by the mother of a man who was fatally shot while being pursued by an Indianapolis police officer has been settled for $390,000.

The settlement was reached on Jan. 31, WRTV-TV reported Friday.

“This agreement should not be construed as an admission of liability or wrongdoing,” reads the agreement, which the broadcaster said was provided by the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department.

The federal lawsuit, filed in June 2020 by Demetree Wynn, named the city, the chief and deputy chief of the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department, and the officer who shot and killed Dreasjon Reed.

That lawsuit alleged that police failed to adequately train, screen and supervise officers to prevent them from using excessive or deadly force.

The police department said officers began pursuing Reed, 21, on May 6, 2020, after spotting someone recklessly driving on Interstate 65, a man named.

Dejoure Mercer, another officer, later spotted the same car on a city street and gave chase to Reed on foot before the two exchanged gunfire, according to police.

Evidence reviewed by state police showed Reed fired two shots from his pistol and the officer fired 13 shots. Investigators were unable to determine who fired first.

Reed live-streamed a previous car chase and part of a foot chase on Facebook.

A grand jury declined to indict the officer.