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CHICAGO: In yet another shooting incident, plainclothes Chicago police officers fired nearly 100 shots in 41 seconds during a traffic stop, according to graphic video footage released Tuesday by a police watchdog agency. One person died and an officer was injured.
Last month, five tactical unit officers traveling in an unmarked police vehicle surrounded an SUV driven by Dexter Reed for allegedly not wearing a seat belt. The video shows the 26-year-old black man briefly lower the window, then raise it, refusing to exit the vehicle as more officers arrive. Yell orders and take out weapons.
Last month, five tactical unit officers traveling in an unmarked police vehicle surrounded an SUV driven by Dexter Reed for allegedly not wearing a seat belt. The video shows the 26-year-old black man briefly lower the window, then raise it, refusing to exit the vehicle as more officers arrive. Yell orders and take out weapons.
COPA released body-worn camera footage, 911 calls and police reports, saying shots continued after Reed exited the vehicle and fell to the ground. The videos released now show a more detailed scene than the videos initially released by police last month.
Police Superintendent Larry Snelling previously said the shooting on March 21 began with a traffic stop. It was described as an exchange of firing. Family members have questioned authorities’ account of the shooting. Looking for the answer to why Reed was stopped?
Police Superintendent Larry Snelling previously said the shooting on March 21 began with a traffic stop. It was described as an exchange of firing. Family members have questioned authorities’ account of the shooting. Looking for the answer to why Reed was stopped?
The officers were placed on 30-day administrative leave pending an investigation by COPA and the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office. State’s Attorney Kim Foxx said her office would determine whether the officers’ use of force was justified or whether criminal charges were necessary. I assure you that our quest for justice will be guided by facts, based on evidence and law.
The Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office classified Reed’s death as a homicide. They said he died from multiple gunshot wounds. COPA was created in 2016. At that time the city was forced to release dashcam video of the shooting of 17-year-old Laquan McDonald by then-Officer Jason Van Dyke. He refuted the officers’ statement that the teenager had attacked the police with a knife. Its responsibilities include investigation of police shootings.
