Dexter Reed Obituary, Family of man killed when Chicago police fired 96 times during traffic

Dexter Reed Obituary – The family of a man from Chicago who was killed during a traffic stop by plainclothes police officers has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the department. The lawsuit, which spans 76 pages, accuses the officers of engaging in “brutally violent” policing tactics and violating multiple laws and department policies.

The incident occurred on March 21 and resulted in the death of 26-year-old Dexter Reed. Recently released videos and documents have raised questions about the officer’s use of force and the tactics employed by unmarked police cars. Community activists are demanding the immediate termination of the officers involved, while the Cook County state’s attorney’s office is conducting its investigation.

The lawsuit alleges that the officers failed to properly identify themselves as police, lacked reasonable suspicion to stop Reed, escalated the situation by immediately drawing their guns and using profanity-laced commands, and neglected to provide timely medical care to Reed after he was shot. The lawsuit further claims that the Chicago Police Department promotes “brutally violent, militarized policing tactics” and that the officers’ actions directly led to Reed’s death. The police have provided limited information about the incident, only mentioning an “exchange of gunfire” and stating that Reed fired first.

However, the Civilian Office of Police Accountability, which investigates police shootings, has reported that five members of a district tactical unit pulled Reed over for allegedly not wearing a seatbelt. According to their preliminary findings, Reed fired the first shot, and the officers responded by firing 96 shots in 41 seconds. Reed was pronounced dead at a hospital. The lawsuit does not mention the investigators’ conclusion that Reed fired first. The city of Chicago is named as the defendant in the lawsuit.