PO Jake Reed
Officer: Joplin Police Department, Police Officer Jake Reed
Date: 3/11/2022 Location: Joplin, MO FACTORS (1,2,9,15,19)
Perpetrator(s) Involved: Anthony R. Felix
Criminal Activity History/Involved: Yes, Felix had “a long history of arrests and convictions”, including convictions for Solicitation of Burglary in 2002, Escape Second Degree in 2003, Theft in 2005, Armed Robbery and Flight from Law Vehicle in 2009, Aggravated Assault and Resisting Arrest in 2019, and Driving Violations and Drug Paraphernalia in 2021. / Yes, Felix was being arrested for creating a disturbance.
Mental Illness: None stated, however Felix was homeless at the time which is a key indicator.
Substance Abuse History/Involved: Yes, Felix pled guilty to a drug charge in 2021. / None stated.
Race/Sex/Age: Latino/Male/40
What prompted the initial contact with the killer? At approximately 1:30 p.m. on March 8, 2022, Joplin Police Officer Jake Reed and Corporal Benjamin Cooper responded to a 911 call of “a disturbance involving an armed man” in the street. Upon arriving in the area, the officers encountered Anthony Felix and attempted to arrest him.
Actions taken by subject toward police: Felix refused to peacefully comply and instead fatally shot both of the officers before stealing their police vehicle and fleeing the scene.
Reactions by the police: Officers chased Felix, swarmed the area, and came across him after he crashed the patrol vehicle and was trying to evade them on foot. Officer Rick Hirshey stopped his patrol vehicle near a van Felix was hiding behind, prompting Felix to shoot through his windshield, striking Officer Hirshey in the face. A gunfight ensued with Felix and several officers, one of whom, Captain William Davis was credited with shooting him dead.
How murdered? Officer Reed was shot at close range while trying to arrest a male subject during a disturbance call, and was declared dead a few days later.
What could have been done differently for the officer to still be alive? Since the 911 call specified the subject was armed, officers would have been justified to take cover upon arriving at the scene and hold Felix at gunpoint as they commanded him to get on the ground with his empty hands stretched out over his head.
Would the officer have been justified to use deadly force before being murdered? Since Felix was described as being armed, the officers would have been justified in using deadly force once they saw him make a furtive movement that they feared was an attempt to access a hidden weapon.
Outcome for the cop-killer: Felix was justifiably killed in a gunfight with the officers.
