Monday, March 31, 2025

Would-Be Cop Killer Faces Justice

 Chauncy Reed will finally face justice as his trial for first-degree murder begins today in Hinds County Circuit Court.  Reed and his brother ambushed JPD Sergeant Mike Tarrio in a shootout at a gas station in 2018.  Tarrio managed to kill one attacker and capture the other.  


JPD Officer Mike Tarrio saw Elliot Reed driving erratically as he pulled into a gas station at 1 AM on May 18, 2018. The alert officer saw several weapons in the car as he approached the vehicle and ordered Elliot to get out of the SUV. Unfortunately for all, Reed attacked Tarrio and put him into a headlock. Reed's brother, Chauncy, jumped out of the passenger seat to help his brother. Elliot tried to take away Tarrio's pistol while he told Chauncy to shoot the police officer. Elliot grappled with Tarrio while Chauncy began firing at Tarrio with a firearm. Chauncy's rounds fortunately missed the officer. Tarrio ran behind his cruiser for cover and returned fire. Elliot was killed in the exchange.

The two videos posted below show the entire struggle as well as the police officer's good fortune.


 

Unfortunately for Officer Tarrio, the case disappeared for several years. MBI referred the case to Hinds County District Attorney Robert Shuler Smith in January 2019 for prosecution. However, Smith only presented Tarrio to the grand jury for killing Elliot Reed while Chauncey escaped prosecution. The grand jury refused to indict Tarrio.

Smith went out of his way to help Reed.  Yes, you read that correctly.  Smith personally handled all police shootings as District Attorney.  One could not find a file for Chauncy Reed in the District Attorney's computer system as Smith had placed it under the code for Tarrio.  In other words, one could not find the Reed file unless he already knew where to find it.  

JJ reported the lack of prosecution for the May 2018 charges in December 2021.  Yours truly asked prosecutors about the case and that is how Smith's subterfuge was discovered.  

 MBI sent a copy of the file to District Attorney Jody Owens after JJ inquired about the case. The District Attorney reviewed the case and presented the case to the grand jury at the next term a few weeks later. The indictment states:

To-wit, Chauncey Reed, while acting in concert and/or aiding, assisting or encouraging Elliot Reed, did cause Elliot Reed to be killed while in the commission of the felony of the attempted murder of City of Jackson Police Officer Michael Tarrio,who was there and then acting in his official capacity as City of Jackson Police Officer by shooting at City of Jackson Police Officer with a firearm....

The Hinds County grand jury indicted Reed in February 2022 for first-degree murder  (his brother was killed in the commission of a crime) and aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer.  

The case is assigned to Circuit Judge Adrienne Wooten.  Attorney Kevin Camp represents Reed.  Unfortunately, Sergeant Tarrio was killed in a motorcycle accident in 2022. 

Catch & Release 

Reed is a star graduate of the Hinds County Catch & Release program.  

A Hinds County grand jury indicted Reed in October 2018 for aggravated assault and shooting into an occupied vehicle in March 2017. Reed also dabbled in a little bit of drug dealing as a grand jury indicted him in May 2018 for four counts of possessing cocaine, meth, and marijuana with intent to distribute. The indictment said he had 187 grams of cocaine. He was also indicted for possessing a stolen firearm. However, the Dope Boys' D.A., Robert Shuler Smith, blessed Mr. Reed.

Smith's office remanded the aggravated assault and shooting into an occupied vehicle charges in September 2019. Prosecutors dropped the firearms enhancement for the firearms charges as well. Judge Adrienne Wooten sentenced Reed to serve 15 years in prison but suspended five years and gave him credit for time served. The drug charges are considered to be "non-violent" so Reed was probably eligible for parole after he served 25% of his sentence and paroled he was on August 10, 2021.

16 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hope it hurts Chauncy.

Anonymous said...

Watching the video I was impressed with the speed the officers back up showed taking a position on the street then finally making it up to the scene. No wonder JPD is the elite of LE.

Anonymous said...

Around, he effed. Found out, he did.

Anonymous said...

Regardless of the outcome, he will soon be released--to kill again.

Anonymous said...

This story is a perfect example of how JPD was systematically undermined and crippled.

A cop barely survived a shootout, the he was presented to the grand jury, instead of the criminal who started it.

KF was the only once who bothered to follow up on it, not JPD, not MBI, not Mississippi Today or the Clarion Ledger, and certainly not the Lumumba administration. Once again, good work, KF.

Anonymous said...

Where was the probable cause for the traffic stop? Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

Anonymous said...

Thank you, Kingfish. Fantastic job.

Hinds county DAs suck. Period. Shame on MBI for dropping any follow up. Not particularly happy about seeing the judge is Wooten. She already had her hands on it and let him off with a slap on the wrist.

Anonymous said...

It was just a matter of time before the "Hmmmmm" guy showed up.

Anonymous said...

12:35; "Tarrio saw Elliot Reed driving erratically". Indicator of impaired driving as in DUI. Probably not enough for you most likely having been DUI in the past. At least my friend says so.

Anonymous said...

Was this guy one of the youths 'helped' by Frank Melton?

Anonymous said...

Is "Hmmmmmm" now considered a complete sentence?

Anonymous said...

When did officers start pulling you over in the front?

Anonymous said...

Do you know him personally? Keep comments to yourself otherwise

Anonymous said...

Were you one of them?

Anonymous said...

CHAUNCY IS MY COUSIN AND IT WAS SELF DEFENSE SO YOU ALL CAN STOP WITH THE STUPID AND SELFLESS COMMENTS

Kingfish said...

Sorry trash, it was all on video. Now your thug cousin gets to spend rest of life in prison knowing he got his brother killed. Oh how the guilt will eat him alive.


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Trollfest '07 was such a success that Jackson Jambalaya will once again host Trollfest '09. Catch this great event which will leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Othor Cain and his band, The Black Power Structure headline the night while Sonjay Poontang returns for an encore performance. Former Frank Melton bodyguard Marcus Wright makes his premier appearance at Trollfest singing "I'm a Sweet Transvestite" from "The Rocky Horror Picture Show." Kamikaze will sing his new hit, “How I sold out to da Man.” Robbie Bell again performs: “Mamas, don't let your babies grow up to be Bells” and “Any friend of Ed Peters is a friend of mine”. After the show, Ms. Bell will autograph copies of her mug shot photos. In a salute to “Dancing with the Stars”, Ms. Bell and Hinds County District Attorney Robert Smith will dance the Wango Tango.

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If you get tired come relax at the Fox News Tent. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both will entitle you to free drinks.Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required, just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '07 is for EVERYONE!!!

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