Video shows Chicago police firing at Dexter Reed 96 times in 41 seconds after he shot officer, COPA says
A Chicago police officers at fatal traffic stop in Humboldt Park last month.
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A man shot and killed by Chicago police during a traffic stop last month “fired first,” striking an officer before four others fired nearly 100 rounds, some after the man fell to the ground, oversight officials said Tuesday.
The Civilian Office of Police Accountability did not say how many times Dexter Reed allegedly fired at the police but said the officers “returned fire approximately 96 times over a period of 41 seconds, including after Mr. Reed exited his vehicle and fell to the ground."
"Review of video footage and initial reports appears to confirm that Mr. Reed fired first, striking the officer and four officers returned fire," COPA added.
COPA said it will “carefully review the actions of the involved police officers and their supervisors to determine whether training, policy and directives were properly followed.”
Mayor Brandon Johnson called the video "deeply disturbing," but walked a fine line between mourning Reed and offering prayers for the wounded cop.
"I am personally devastated to see yet another young Black man lose his life during an interaction with the police. My heart breaks for the family of Dexter Reed," he said. "I've also been praying for the full recovery of the officer who was shot during this interaction."
Reed was stopped in the 3800 block of West Ferdinand in Humboldt Park on March 21 "for purportedly not wearing a seatbelt," according to COPA.
Body-worn camera footage shows officers hopping out of an unmarked vehicle and approaching Reed’s GMC Terrain, parked over a crosswalk behind the police vehicle. Reed briefly rolls his window down as directed, then begins rolling it back up.
“I ain’t doing nothing,” Reed says as an officer tells him to keep the window up and unlock the doors.
A series of initial gunshots ring out as officers duck for cover and call for help over police radio.
As the gunfire continues, Reed is seen walking around the back of his SUV before he’s struck and falls down.
Reed, who was unarmed by this time, is briefly seen lying on the ground as officers continue to fire shots.
“Don’t f—-ing move,” one officer says as she approaches him. “F---, f----, f---, f---, f---, f---, f---. Don’t move!”
As another officer walks alongside the bullet-riddled GMC, he reports that Reed’s gun was left on a seat.
Shortly after the shooting, officers are seen tending to the wounded officer and another cop who says he’s “freaking out.” An officer recording the video has a clear message: “Don’t say anything, you hear me? Be quiet.”
First aid at the scene
The video show Reed lying unresponsive as officers search for a gun and place handcuffs on him. With a flood of police cars responding to the scene, officers are shown performing chest compressions on Reed.
Reports released by COPA indicate four of the five officers at the scene fired at Reed. Only one of them did not reload their gun.
The officer who was wounded had walked up to the front passenger side window of Reed's SUV and can be heard ordering Reed to roll down his window as officers on the other side of the window shout at Reed to lower the window on their side.
The officer was holding a baton and appeared to grab hold of the passenger door handle when he cries out and pulls away from the door, turning and stumbling on the grass of the parkway. Holding his left arm limp at his side and clutching his radio in his right, the officer stumbles across a side yard, gasping.
Blood drips from his arm as he jogs across the street, taking up a vantage point about 50 feet behind Reed's vehicle, as shots ring out over and over, according to the video.
In its statement Tuesday, COPA said its investigators "have also provided briefings to the Cook County state’s attorney’s office, the FBI, the Department of Justice and sent a formal request to Supt. Larry Snelling recommending the Chicago Police Department relieve four officers of their police powers during the pendency of this investigation."
Johnson appeared to caution against making judgments before all the facts are gathered.
"I know this footage is extremely painful and traumatic for many of our city’s residents," the mayor said at a City Hall news conference. "It would be especially difficult for those of us living in communities where the events depicted occur all too often.
"Shooting a police officer can never be condoned, never excused," he added. "I will never stand for that. And neither will the city of Chicago. We also have to be very clear that we hold our police to the highest of standards."
Appearing with Johnson was State's Atty. Kim Foxx, said her office was "in the very beginning stages of our review process, examining the evidence compiled by COPA thus far, including body worn cameras and other video, medical and forensic evidence."
"We understand the great public interest in transparency and accountability, especially when deadly force is used and a life is taken," she said. "For the family of Dexter Reed, the wounded officer and the officers involved in this incident, we must ensure that the process is transparent, fair and thorough."
Before the video was released, West Side faith leaders on Tuesday called for a independent investigation beyond the one being conducted by the police oversight agency. The Rev. Ira Acree, one of several faith leaders who signed the letter, suggested the investigation be conducted by the attorney general or federal government.
"People still have these ugly images of the 16 shots and a coverup that was associated with Laquan McDonald," Acree told the Sun-Times, referring to a teenager killed by Chicago Police Officer Jason Van Dyke. "I believe to build trust with police, you have to have an independent investigation that's a little removed from these people who are friends who know each other."
At least one member of the City Council believes the shooting was justified.
Ald. Brian Hopkins (2nd), chairman of the City Council’s Public Safety Committee, told the Sun-Times that he's been told the 26-year-old Reed fired 11 shots through his car window in what Hopkins called “an attempt to kill police officers.” An empty gun was recovered at the scene, Hopkins said.
“If we’re going to allow criminals to use deadly force without fear of deadly force being returned, what will that do to society?” Hopkins said. "He fired 11 rounds at these police officers before he was eventually killed. Period. What more do you need to talk about?”
Reed’s family view video
Reed’s family members viewed footage of the shooting Monday afternoon with their attorney Andrew Stroth, whose civil rights firm has sued the city over other police shootings. Stroth declined to comment ahead of a news conference the family is planning to hold Tuesday afternoon outside COPA’s West Town offices.
Days after the shooting, the family sent a letter to Mayor Brandon Johnson and Chicago Police Supt. Larry Snelling saying they “still don’t know why Dexter was shot by these plainclothed police officers. What we do know, leaves us very troubled.”
On a GoFundMe page seeking donations to cover legal fees and funeral expenses, Reed’s sister said the family hadn’t seen evidence that Reed fired at police.
Basketball coaches remember man killed in shootout with Chicago police: ‘He let you know he had your back
In their letter to Johnson and Snelling, Reed’s family described him as a standout basketball player with dreams of becoming a sportscaster. Reed had led Westinghouse College Prep to a regional championship and later played basketball at Morton College in Cicero, the family said.
Reed, known as “Dex,” was remembered by his coaches as a team leader. Westinghouse head coach Rafie Fields, an assistant coach during Reed’s playing career, said he was “stunned and in disbelief” after learning of the shooting.
“What happened is very unfortunate,” Fields told the Sun-Times. “A lot of people are affected, of course Dexter’s family, as well as the Chicago police officer’s family and the Chicago police officers themselves. ... It’s just an unfortunate situation [for] everyone involved."
Prior to the shooting, Reed had been arrested twice in a matter of months and was awaiting trial in a pending gun case, according to Cook County court records.
He was first arrested on April 20, 2023, after allegedly walking out of the Saks Fifth Avenue along the Magnificent Mile while wearing a $950 shirt he hadn’t paid for, according to an arrest report. He was charged with a misdemeanor count of retail theft that was soon tossed out.
Then on July 13, 2023, he was arrested again when officers allegedly found him carrying a loaded handgun while entering the Windy City Smokeout music festival outside the United Center, an arrest report states. He had no concealed carry license, and his firearm owners identification card had been revoked.
After initially being charged with a felony count of unlawful use of a weapon, he was indicted on additional gun-related felonies, court records show. That case was pending when he was shot and killed.
Reed had previously worked for Monterrey Security, a politically connected firm with deep ties to the Chicago Police Department.
Monterrey’s top staff includes former high-ranking Chicago police officials Anthony Riccio, Bob Klich and Hiram Grau, who was also the director of the Illinois State Police. Fred Waller, a key adviser to Snelling who also served as interim superintendent, previously worked as Monterrey’s director of strategic initiatives.
Reed worked a range of assignments for Monterrey between May and December of 2019, most recently guarding Credit Union 1 Arena, formerly the UIC Pavilion. He was ultimately fired for “attendance issues,” Monterrey spokesman Steve Patterson said.
Reed’s visitation and funeral were last week.