No weapon found
in Reed shooting
By Lenny Roberts

As the internal investigation continues into why a Ventura County Sheriff's Department S.W.A.T. sniper killed a Meiners Oaks man two weeks ago at the conclusion of a three-hour standoff, authorities now say that there was no weapon in the immediate area where Piarre Reed was shot outside his front door.

Although the family has declined to be interviewed or make an official statement, the pain on the faces of parents Frances and Bud Reed was evident Wednesday morning at the Ojai Valley News office after the announcement was made that their son may not have been armed when shot once through the head.

According to investigators, neighbors in the 2200 block of Maricopa Highway reported that Reed, 43, had been firing a weapon repeatedly throughout the night. When deputies arrived on the morning of Oct. 24 to arrest Reed for his alleged crime, the situation escalated after he failed to respond to attempts made to communicate with him via telephone, cell phone and verbal commands from outside his two-story rented home.

The Special Weapons and Tactics team was summoned after deputies were "verbally threatened and fired upon by Mr. Reed," according to a recently issued report. The report also states that while S.W.A.T. members were moving into position, Reed fired a shotgun from the rear of the residence.

"After firing at deputies, he stepped into the house for a few seconds and then came back out as the deputies were moving to new positions," according to the written statement prepared by Eric Nishimoto, the sheriff's public information officer. "Upon stepping out of the house, Reed turned his body to a position from which he could fire at deputies."

Reed then allegedly turned his body to a position from which he could fire and began bringing his arms up to what was described as a firing position. Perceiving an immediate and deadly threat to others, the unidentified S.W.A.T. member fired once, dropping Reed to the ground. Investigators say they discovered several weapons and hundres of rounds of ammunition inside Reed's home.

The investigation is being conducted by the Sheriff's Professional Standards Bureau, Internal Affairs Unit, Speacial Services Bureau, and the Major Crime Unit. Upon completion, the findings will be reviewed by the District Attorney's Office.

© 2003 The Ojai Valley News

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