Megan Reed continues to demand justice for her 13-year-old son. Sinzae Reed was shot and killed in October. Krieg Butler was released after
i came across sinzae reed’s name again today after not hearing his name for a while. i read this article amongst others and i really sympathise with what his mother is going through, based on personal experience. the justice systems in the uk and us are different but how no one talks to grieving family members and leave them completely in the dark for months is apparently the same - they didn’t even tell her when the man that killed her son was released. they’re neighbours. i hope they start keeping her up to date very soon, like now, and i hope she gets the truth and justice for her son.
13-year-old Sinzae Reed was fatally shot by neighbor who walked free
On October 12, 13-year-old Sinzae Reed was reportedly shot and killed by 36-year-old Krieg A. Butler Sr. in Columbus, Ohio. Days later, charges were dropped against Butler.
On October 12, 13-year-old Sinzae Reed was reportedly shot and killed by 36-year-old Krieg A. Butler Sr. in Columbus, Ohio.
According to the Columbus Dispatch, the Franklin County Prosecutor’s office initially charged Butler with murder, but a week later, on October 19, prosecutors dismissed the case in Municipal Court.
Columbus detectives say a claim of self-defense was made by Butler and his…
Sin'Zae Reed, 13, was fatally shot Oct. 12 at the Wedgewood Apartments complex in #Columbus Hilltop neighborhood. His sister, 20-year-old Makayla Nichols, and other family members said Sinzae was a good kid and want justice for him from authorities. 36-year-old Krieg Butler, a resident of the complex, fatally shot Reed.
Megan Reed, Sin'Zae's mother, said her son will now always be a 13-year-old teenage boy that she can longer hold or hear him speak. In his obituary, family members remembered Reed, who went by 'Zay,' as a boy who loved music, video games and spending time with his friends. Reed attended KIPP Columbus, a charter school on the Northeast Side.
According to court records, an eyewitness saw Butler exit a red truck and fire multiple times at Reed. Butler then got back in the truck and fled the scene. Butler was initially charged with Reed's homicide and ordered held on $1 million bond, but prosecutors filed a motion to dismiss the case after Butler's arrest; Homicide charges were dropped pending further police investigation into Butler's claim of self-defense in the shooting.
"All I'm asking for is justice for my baby — is that too much to give?" Reed said. "I will never stop until Sin'Zae gets justice, I will forever be his voice."
Reed and others at the press conference called for the immediate re-arrest of Butler. Ramon Obey II, president of JUST 614 and event organizer, said he was calling on members of the community to pressure the Franklin County Prosecutor's office to take action.
Obey called Sunday for four points of action from criminal justice officials: that Butler be immediately re-arrested and charged with murder, that Franklin County Prosecutor Gary Tyack resign from his position, an apology from the city of Columbus to Reed's family and a U.S. Department of Justice investigation into the shooting.
Dejuan Sharp, a member of the Columbus Downtownerz who has been advocating for Reed's family, said the criminal justice system was incapable of delivering justice to the family.
Obey said that community activists planned several events to continue to try and pressure the justice system into action against Butler. On Thursday, they plan to travel to Tyack's office and deliver a letter saying they want the removal of the member of his office responsible for dismissing the criminal charges against Butler. Next Saturday, a protest at noon at the Ohio Statehouse, where they plan to march for not just Reed, but also Donovan Lewis and Casey Goodson, who were both shot and killed by police officers in Franklin County.
On Jan. 9, Obey said he and others plan to attend Columbus City Council's next regular meeting and ask every member of council to sign a letter saying they support the immediate arrest of Butler and removal of Franklin County prosecutor personnel.
Full text article via dispatch (this post is a paraphrasing/shortening)
