On a December evening in Bridgeton, New Jersey, a traffic stop escalated into a fatal encounter for 36-year-old Jerame C. Reid, an African-American man. On December 30, 2014, officers Braheme Days and Roger Worley pulled over a Jaguar for allegedly running a stop sign. The situation quickly intensified when Officer Days, who recognized Reid from a prior arrest, reportedly saw a handgun in the glove compartment.
The interaction, captured on a police dashcam, shows Officer Days warning
Reid, who was in the passenger seat, not to move and repeatedly demanding he show his hands. Days can be heard on the video telling Reid, 'If you reach for something, you're going to be... dead.' Reid can be heard replying, 'I ain't doing nothing. I'm not reaching for nothing, bro.' Despite commands to remain in the vehicle, Reid began to exit the car. As he emerged, with his hands appearing to be raised, Officer Days fired multiple shots, and Officer Worley fired once. Reid was struck in the chest and left arm and died from his injuries. He was unarmed at the time he was shot.
The two officers involved, Braheme Days, who is Black, and Roger Worley, who is white, were placed on administrative leave following the shooting. They told investigators they feared for their lives, believing Reid was reaching for a weapon. In August 2015, a Cumberland County grand jury declined to bring criminal charges against the officers. Subsequently, the U.S. Attorney's Office for New Jersey conducted a federal investigation but also concluded in August 2016 that there was insufficient evidence to pursue federal criminal civil rights charges against the officers. The federal investigation determined they could not prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the officers did not fear for their safety.
In the wake of the shooting, Reid's family filed a federal lawsuit against the city of Bridgeton. In July 2016, a tentative settlement was reached in which Reid's infant son would receive periodic payments, and his widow and mother would also receive compensation. Both Officer Days and Officer Worley later left the Bridgeton police force.
