The family of Dexter Reed, a 26-year-old Chicago man killed during a traffic stop by plainclothes police officers who fired nearly 100 times, has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the department. The lawsuit alleges that the officers used “brutally violent” policing tactics and violated multiple laws and police department policies during the incident on March 21. The officers involved have been placed on administrative leave while the Cook County state’s attorney’s office investigates the matter.
According to the lawsuit, the officers did not properly identify themselves as police during the traffic stop, lacked reasonable suspicion to stop Reed, immediately drew guns, blocked his vehicle, and shouted profanity-laced commands, escalating the situation. The complaint also claims that the officers failed to provide timely medical care as Reed lay in the street, leading to his death. The lawsuit accuses the Chicago Police Department of promoting militarized policing tactics that directly resulted in Reed’s death.
The Civilian Office of Police Accountability released videos and documents this month, indicating that Reed fired at the officers first, leading them to return fire, shooting 96 times in 41 seconds. Reed was pronounced dead at a hospital following the incident. The lawsuit alleges that the district tactical unit involved in the shooting has historically targeted young Black men in divested and low-income neighborhoods. Family members of Reed described him as a kind and caring person with ambitions of becoming a sportscaster.
Reed’s family is seeking a jury trial and unspecified monetary damages in the lawsuit. His mother, Nicole Banks, spoke at a news conference outside the West Side police district where the officers work, expressing her devastation over her son’s death. Reed had previously suffered severe injuries in a family altercation in 2021, leading to post-traumatic stress disorder that affected his ability to work and communicate. The family’s attorney emphasized the urgency of reform in the police department to prevent future incidents like Reed’s death.
The formation of the Civilian Office of Police Accountability in 2016 was a response to the release of dashcam video showing the fatal shooting of Laquan McDonald by a Chicago police officer. The Justice Department found a long history of racial bias and excessive use of force by Chicago police officers, leading to a court-imposed consent decree in 2019. The independent monitoring team overseeing the department’s compliance has found it falling behind on deadlines and specific goals, highlighting the need for continued reform. The lawsuit seeks to hold the city of Chicago, the police department, and the officers involved accountable for Reed’s death.
