The graphic bodycam footage released Tuesday revealed the chaos that took place when plainclothes Chicago cops fired nearly 100 gunshots during a traffic stop last month, resulting in the death of Dexter Reed, 26, and injuring another individual. Reed was shot during a March 21 traffic stop in Humboldt Park after officers in an unmarked car pulled him over for a seatbelt violation. Despite the chaotic scene captured on the footage, there wasn’t a clear view of Reed shooting at police.
The video footage showed Reed rolling down the window of his SUV and then refusing to exit the vehicle, prompting five officers to draw their weapons and give commands. Preliminary evidence suggested that Reed fired at one officer first, followed by the other officers returning fire around 96 times over a 41-second period, even after Reed had exited the vehicle and fallen to the ground.
A gun was found in the passenger seat of Reed’s vehicle after the shootout, adding further evidence to the chaotic situation that unfolded during the traffic stop. One witness who called 911 described the scene as officers shooting as if they were in a war zone, highlighting the intensity and rapidness of the gunfire exchange that took place.
Reed’s family members have expressed concerns about the authorities’ narrative of the shooting, with their attorney mentioning that they plan to push for a thorough investigation into the incident. Reed was described as a talented basketball player with aspirations of becoming a sports broadcaster, making his untimely death even more devastating for his loved ones.
The medical examiner classified Reed’s death as a homicide due to multiple gunshot wounds, underscoring the fatal outcome of the exchange between the officers and Reed during the traffic stop. The police department stated that they are cooperating with the investigation, and the mayor emphasized the importance of transparency by releasing the footage and 911 calls related to the incident.
State’s Attorney Kim Foxx has pledged to review the officers’ use of force during the incident to determine if any criminal charges are warranted, adding to the ongoing investigation into the shooting. The attorney for Reed’s family argued that the shooting was unconstitutional since the plainclothes officers did not identify themselves as law enforcement, raising further questions about the circumstances surrounding Reed’s death and the actions of the officers involved.
