Franklin County Prosecutor secures guilty pleas related to shooting death of Sinzae Reed

Posted on 11/25/2024

Defendant: Krieg Butler

The Franklin County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office secured a guilty plea Friday from Krieg Butler for illegal actions related to the shooting death of 13-year-old Sinzae Reed in 2022. Butler, 38, pleaded guilty to one count of improper handling of a firearm in motor vehicle and one count of tampering with evidence.

Assistant prosecuting attorney David Zeyen prosecuted the case for the prosecutor’s office.

Butler fatally shot Reed Oct. 12, 2022, which Butler said was in self-defense. As a result of his guilty plea, the prosecution and defense jointly recommended a sentence of six months in local jail and three years of probation. Butler has also agreed to testify truthfully should anyone ever be charged in connection with Reed’s death.

Butler will be sentenced on Dec. 2, 2024. Megan Reed, Sinzae’s mother, and other family members will get the opportunity to give impact statements at sentencing.