Painter Couldn't Remember Firing Gun Near Synagogue, School: Cops

MIAMI BEACH, FL — A 30-year-old painter claimed he had no recollection of firing a stolen handgun steps away from a Miami Beach school and synagogue before the 9mm Ruger jammed Wednesday as parents picked up their children and people walked to nearby businesses, according to Miami Beach police.

Eddie Reed of the 3000 block of NW 44 Street in Miami was charged by Miami Beach police with discharging a firearm in public and various other weapons offenses after being taken into custody at 41 Street and Chase Avenue shortly before 6 p.m.

"The defendant said the next thing he remembers police are there telling him 'drop the gun' and then he remembers being inside the rear of a police car," according to court documents. "The defendant stated he doesn't remember anything else that happened during that time."

Miami Beach police said Reed allegedly blamed his inability to remember what happened on his diabetes.

The incident took place at 41 Street and Chase Avenue not far from Temple Beth Sholom and North Beach Elementary School.

A Miami-Dade County Public Schools spokesperson said North Beach Elementary School was briefly placed on lockdown as a result of the incident.

"This was done as a precaution, as we would normally do during school hours if there is police activity in the area, but there were very few people in the building at that time," the spokesperson added, saying the school's aftercare program ends around 6 p.m.

Court documents said the incident was only about 16 feet from the school at 4100 Prairie Ave. and 150 feet from the synagogue at 4144 Chase Ave.

No one was injured.

Police recovered what they described as a "projectile" from a wall above the entrance to 774 41 Street.

Court documents said the black Ruger contained a magazine with six live rounds. In addition, they found a live round on the ground and two more in Reed's back pocket.

A 9-1-1 called told police he saw Reed pacing back and forth on the corner of 41 Street and Chase Avenue as he held the handgun in his right hand.

The witness told police he saw Reed pull the slide back on the gun and open fire.

Reed allegedly told police he took the gun to work with him at 26 Street and Collins Avenue and also took it with him on a public bus without a concealed weapons permit. He allegedly said he bought the weapon two months ago from someone in his neighborhood for protection.

Court documents said police surrounded Reed with their vehicles to protect bystanders.

"Officers gave the defendant loud verbal commands to drop the firearm which he did not comply," court documents said. "Instead, the defendant placed the firearm in his right rear pants' pocket, ultimately concealing the firearm from officers."

Police said they managed to take Reed into custody without incident.

Traffic was shut down for a time between Prairie and Meridian Avenue along 41 Street.

"We’ve learned the firearm recovered had been reported stolen," Miami Beach police said. "Our officers arrived on scene within seconds and confronted the armed subject. Incredible restraint displayed by responding officers."