The deadly incident following a traffic stop where Chicago police officers unleashed a barrage of nearly 100 bullets, killing 26-year-old Dexter Reed, continues to stir up heated debate and question marks over the use of force by law enforcement. According to a CBS News report, the Civilian Office of Police Accountability (COPA) and an independent expert have found it likely that Reed fired the first shot, sparking a frantic shootout that led to Reed's death and injury to an officer.
After being pulled over on March 21 by plainclothes officers for an alleged seatbelt violation, the situation escalated rapidly when Reed reportedly rolled up his window instead of complying with officers. Revealed by bodycam video, the conflict spiraled out of control within seconds, culminating in a hail of gunfire that critically questions the proportionality of the force used. COPA Chief Administrator Andrea Kersten raised doubts about whether the officers could have seen Reed violating any seatbelt law, especially considering the darkly tinted car windows, in a statement obtained by CBS News.
Further amplifying concerns, AP News reported that COPA described "grave concerns" over the officers' discernment of necessary and reasonable use of deadly force in a letter to Police Superintendent Larry Snelling. The aftermath of the shooting saw the involved officers placed on a 30-day administrative leave as COPA and the Cook County state’s attorney delve into the investigations. Notably, one officer discharged his weapon about 50 times, sparking further scrutiny over the number of shots fired as Reed lay injured on the ground.
As community and family members grieve over the loss, Mayor Brandon Johnson conveyed his devastation, sympathizing with the family's hardship and identifying with the experience of raising Black boys in Chicago. "Our heart breaks for the family of Dexter Reed. They are grieving the loss of a son, a brother, and a nephew," Johnson told CBS News. The ACLU has criticized the responding officers for what appeared to be quickly escalating the confrontation without attempting de-escalation, according to AP News.
As the inquiries unfold, tactical officers' engagement in regular traffic stops is under the microscope, and the legitimacy of the initial stop is questionable. Reed's family has expressed skepticism about why their son faced multiple barrels of guns if the stop was genuinely over a seatbelt violation. While the aftermath of the shooting is scrutinized, the pressing question remains – how accountable will officers be for each of the 96 shots fired? Policing experts point out the necessity for each shot to be justified, especially given that Reed was eventually unarmed when he was on the ground. In this vein, investigations loom to evaluate the possibility of criminal charges and whether the shootings aligned with or deviated from accepted police practices.
