Douglas County prosecutors Thursday morning dropped charges against a 28-year-old Lawrence man accused of firing a gun outside a bar last week because federal prosecutors are expected to charge him in the case.
Eric A. Reed Jr. had faced state charges of aggravated assault and criminal possession of a firearm. Lawrence police arrested him about 2:45 a.m. Friday near Bob Billings Parkway and Iowa Street after officers were investigating a report of multiple gun shots fired from a vehicle in the parking lot of Taste Lounge, Bar and Grill, 804 W. 24th St., near 24th and Alabama streets.
According to the Kansas Department of Corrections, Reed is on parole for a 2007 Douglas County drug possession case, and he was expected to be held in jail on a KDOC warrant. Eve Kemple, an assistant Douglas County district attorney, said Thursday morning federal prosecutors were taking over the case. Federal law prohibits convicted felons from possessing firearms.
Police have said they believed a second person was inside the vehicle, but only Reed was found and arrested. Kemple said the shooting incident outside Taste remains under investigation.
Comments
lgreen17 5 years, 9 months ago
Of course! why would our elected PROSECUTOR try a case when he can just give it to the FEDS? Branson probably had an appointment to get his nails polished. What a JOKE this so called "democrat" is. When are the Douglas county democrats going to wake up!
Monty Amick 5 years, 9 months ago
wow..really? You can state this lgreen17? Hellooo..... the important words here are "firearms" and "feds". Of course the county prosecutor will step out of the way and let the big guys take a whack at this idiot.
Get off your trollbox
Jim Phillips 5 years, 9 months ago
lgreen, I am not exactly thrilled with Branson as a D.A. myself, but considering the federal system does not offer parole any more, I'm guessing this guy will get 10 years minimum; and it will be full sentence served. I doubt he would get anywhere close to that in any District Court. Believe me, the federal case is a much better deal for the citizenry.
lunacydetector 5 years, 9 months ago
how many shootings have happened outside of taste? they need to shut a bar down if it is two or more shootings in one year.
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