Plainclothes Chicago police officers fired nearly 100 gunshots during a traffic stop that left one man dead and one officer injured. The incident occurred last month when five officers surrounded an SUV driven by Dexter Reed, allegedly for failing to wear a seatbelt. Video footage released by the Civilian Office of Police Accountability shows the 26-year-old Black man refusing to exit the vehicle and firing at officers, injuring one. In response, four officers returned fire, shooting a total of 96 rounds. The shooting continued even after Reed exited the vehicle and fell to the ground.
Family members have raised questions about the incident, seeking answers on why Reed was pulled over. Reed’s mother, sister, uncle, and father were emotionally distraught after viewing the video and remember him as a talented high school basketball player. The family’s attorney called the police stop unconstitutional, highlighting the lack of announcement by plainclothes officers. The family is urging for a swift investigation and better compliance with a court-supervised reform plan to prevent similar incidents in the future.
The Chicago police department is cooperating with the investigation but has not made any determinations until all facts are known. Video footage from body-worn cameras shows multiple perspectives, including the officer who was shot, but does not clearly capture Reed shooting. A gun was later recovered from the vehicle, and multiple officers were heard screaming commands before the gunshots erupted. Reed was subdued and handcuffed after officers found the weapon in the vehicle. The mayor vowed a full investigation and emphasized the need for transparency in such cases to prevent the loss of more lives during interactions with police.
The Cook County state’s attorney’s office will determine whether the officers’ use of force was warranted or necessitated criminal charges. Reed’s death was classified as a homicide by the medical examiner’s office, attributing it to multiple gunshot wounds. Cop accountability and transparency measures have been reinforced in Chicago since the Laquan McDonald shooting, leading to the creation of the Civilian Office of Police Accountability in 2016. The police department has been under a consent decree since 2019 due to racial bias and excessive use of force findings, which have prompted ongoing monitoring to ensure compliance with reform goals.
Overall, efforts are being made to ensure that incidents like the shooting of Dexter Reed do not happen in the future. The community is demanding justice for Reed and accountability for the officers involved. The police department is under scrutiny to adhere to the reform plan and prevent instances of excessive use of force. The investigations by COPA and the state’s attorney’s office will determine the appropriate actions to be taken regarding the officers’ conduct during the traffic stop that led to Reed’s death. The tragedy has once again shed light on the need for police accountability and transparency in Chicago and beyond.
