Incident details
- Date of incident
- May 29, 2020
- Targets
- John Reed (Freelance)
- Case number
- 1:22-cv-01300
- Case status
- Settled
- Type of case
- Civil
- Assailant
- Law enforcement
- Was the journalist targeted?
- No
Assault
Denver police officers at a George Floyd protest on May 29, 2020, where journalist John Reed was struck in the legs with pepper balls multiple times.
Freelance journalist John Reed was shot in the legs multiple times with pepper balls by police in Denver, Colorado, while documenting a May 29, 2020, protest over the murder of George Floyd.
Reed, who was hit repeatedly with police projectiles over several days of demonstrations, later reached a settlement with the city over the incidents.
After documenting the downtown Denver protest the night before – during which he was struck by pepper balls – Reed returned to the area the next day.
According to a 2022 complaint filed by Reed and a group of journalists and YouTubers who were documenting the demonstrations, police that night used large amounts of tear gas on the crowd, leaving Reed’s eyes burning until he washed them out with milk.
Moments later, Reed was among a group of people standing at a street corner when, without warning, officers opened fire with pepper balls. Reed was struck multiple times in the legs, causing pain and bruising.
A YouTube video posted by Reed from that evening shows officers firing pepper balls from inside their vehicle, shooting out of its window at a crowd on the sidewalk shortly after dispersing them with tear gas.
The Denver City Council ultimately approved a $398,500 settlement in the case on June 9, 2025, with Reed settling for $77,500.
Also part of the settlement was a separate case involving a photojournalist struck by pepper balls the next day while documenting a protest.
Since 2020, the city has paid approximately $18.3 million in settlements related to lawsuits against Denver police officers for their actions during the protests.
The U.S. Press Freedom Tracker catalogues press freedom violations in the United States. Email tips to [email protected].
