On a tragic Thursday in Topeka, Kansas, the life of 39-year-old Reginald D. Privette, Jr. was cut short. On April 11, 2024, officers from the Topeka Police Department were called to the scene of a shooting at Reser's Fine Foods. The incident resulted in the death of Privette, a Black male who worked as a machine operator at the food processing plant.
Originally from Washington, D.C., where he was born on May 25, 1984, Privette had made a life for himself in Topeka.
He was a member of the Faith Harvest Church of God in Christ. His death left behind his father, a brother, and four sisters, in addition to numerous other relatives and friends who mourned his sudden and violent passing.
The investigation into the shooting moved swiftly, and within a few days, a suspect was taken into custody. On April 14, 2024, Topeka police arrested 65-year-old Eddie Holmes in southeast Topeka in connection with the shooting death of Reginald Privette. Further details regarding the motive or the circumstances leading up to the shooting have not been made widely public. A celebration of Privette's life was held on May 4, 2024, in Yanceyville, North Carolina.
