The officer drew his service weapon and again ordered Reid to show his hands. Officer Smith approached and grabbed the suspect's right shoulder with his left arm extended, ordering Reid to lay down on the grass next to the road. He resisted, but the officer managed to get him on his knees.

Suddenly Reid started to stand up again, putting both hands inside the front of his jacket. Smith, who had his left hand on Reid's shoulder, instinctively felt that Reid was about to draw a weapon and again firmly ordered him to raise his hands. Instead Reid lunged upward and moved his arms up from his midsection. Sustained with the knowledge that Reid was a dangerous and armed felon capable of violence, and fearing at that moment that Reid had a gun or a knife that he was about to use, Smith fired one shot [discharged his weapon one time] which hit Reid's spine. Officer Shortt arrived on the scene and administered first aid. Reid was taken to a hospital where he was pronounced dead. A serrated knife with a 2-3/4" blade was found in the pocket of Reid's jacket.

This fatal incident was not the first time that Officer Smith had attempted to arrest Reid. Three months earlier, he had tried to serve the warrants on him without success. Officer Smith knew that the warrants involved death threats to Reid's probation officer and to the mother of Reid's children. The New Milford Police Department had advised that caution should be used in arresting Reid, as he was known to be violent and capable of killing.

Officer Smith, as mentioned, had never fired his service weapon on duty and was not known as a reckless cop. He is now on paid administrative leave and has the full support of the New Milford P.D.