Alabama Man’s Death Ruled Homicide After Officer Kneels on His Neck for Over Three Minutes

This undated photo shows Sandra Lee Reeder and her husband, Phillip Reeder, who was killed on August 4, 2024 after a police officer restrained Phillip Reeder by pressing a knee to his neck

The death of Phillip Reeder, a 52-year-old unarmed white man who died after an Irondale police officer knelt on his neck for over three minutes during an arrest in August 2024, has been ruled a homicide, according to the Jefferson County Medical Examiner's Office.

The official autopsy, reviewed by family attorneys, concludes that Reeder died from heart failure “associated with cocaine use and restraint during altercation.” The report notes that he sustained multiple non-lethal wounds and bruises during the arrest. He was unresponsive when officers rolled him onto his back and was pronounced dead shortly after 6:30 a.m. at a local hospital.

Reeder’s wife, Sandra Lee Reeder, and their two sons said they recently viewed body camera footage of the fatal incident. According to her account, officers responded to a 911 call placed by one of Reeder’s co-workers, who reported a medical emergency. Reeder, who owned a construction company and was returning from a job in Memphis, Tennessee, had reportedly been wandering into traffic on a local highway around 5 a.m. on August 6, 2024.

Sandra Lee Reeder said the footage showed her husband running from officers before being shocked with a Taser, handcuffed, and pinned face-down on the ground. One officer placed a knee on Reeder’s neck for over three minutes as he repeatedly said, “I can’t breathe.”

This undated photo shows Sandra Lee Reeder and her husband, Phillip Reeder, who was killed on August 4, 2024 after a police officer restrained Phillip Reeder by pressing a knee to his neck

Despite nearly a year of public silence, the release of the autopsy results has reignited comparisons to the 2020 killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis, which sparked global protests against police brutality. Civil rights attorney Harry Daniels, who is representing the Reeder family, said at a press conference Monday outside Irondale City Hall that Reeder’s death mirrored Floyd’s — with the only difference being race.

“This world was captivated and shocked about what happened in 2020 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. In 2024, the exact same thing happened,” Daniels said. “Reeder may have committed misdemeanor disorderly conduct by walking into traffic — but a knee to the neck is deadly force.”

Daniels also criticized the Irondale Police Department for withholding bodycam footage from the public, citing Alabama’s 2023 law allowing law enforcement agencies to limit disclosure during active investigations. Despite repeated requests, the Reeder family said they were only permitted to view the footage this month — nearly a year after the incident.

“What I have gone through these past 11 months should not happen to any 19-year-old,” said Reeder’s son, Zachariah Phillip Reeder.

An email requesting comment from the Irondale police chief remained unanswered as of Monday morning. Authorities have not said whether any disciplinary actions or criminal charges will follow the coroner's homicide ruling.