Incident details
- Date of incident
- May 30, 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 shoot a crowd-control munition during a protest over the death of George Floyd, on May 30, 2020. Journalist John Reed was hit in the feet with pepper balls during demonstrations that day.
Freelance journalist John Reed was hit in the feet with pepper balls by police in Denver, Colorado, while documenting a May 30, 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.
According to a 2022 complaint filed by Reed and a group of journalists and YouTubers who were documenting police activities, he was initially denied access to record an arrest when he went to the May 30 protest at around 9 pm.
Then, a couple of hours later, as he approached to document the scene of an accident, he was shot at with pepper balls and hit in his feet.
Officers also used flashlights to obstruct Reed’s camera, deliberately preventing him from filming.
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 same day while documenting the 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].
