Chicago police officers fatally shot 26-year-old Dexter Reed, Jr. during a traffic stop last month, firing an estimated 96 shots after he allegedly fired first, injuring an officer. The city’s Civilian Office of Police Accountability released body-camera videos and other materials related to the incident on Tuesday as they continue to investigate the officers’ use of deadly force. The officers, assigned to a tactical unit, stopped Reed for not wearing a seatbelt and the encounter quickly escalated into gunfire.
The evidence suggests that Reed fired first, hitting an officer, before officers opened fire on him, leading to his death. The sequence of events raises questions about the proportionality of the officers’ response, especially as they fired a total of 96 shots in just 41 seconds. The incident has sparked concerns about the officers’ judgment in using deadly force and has prompted an investigation by the Chicago Police Department as well as the Cook County state’s attorney’s office.
Reed’s family, represented by their lawyer Andrew M. Stroth, is calling for the disbandment of the tactical units involved in the incident and for criminal indictments against the officers. They believe the initial traffic stop was unconstitutional, and they are seeking accountability for Reed’s death. The family remembers Reed as a talented student-athlete with aspirations of becoming a broadcaster, and they are demanding answers and justice for their loved one.