Five Chicago police officers will not face criminal charges after firing almost 100 shots during a 2024 traffic stop that killed 26-year-old Dexter Reed, prosecutors announced Wednesday.
Reed, who was Black, was shot 13 times in the legs and chest, according to the Cook County medical examiner. The shooting has sparked ongoing questions about police use of force and the role of tactical units in such stops.
Cook County State’s Attorney Eileen O’Neill Burke said the decision was based on “clear and overwhelming evidence” that Reed fired first. He shot 11 rounds in two bursts with a gun he had obtained illegally, injuring one officer. “This decision is not made lightly, nor does it lessen the tragedy that happened,” Burke said. “But under Illinois law, the officers did not commit a crime.”
The incident happened on March 21, 2024, when plainclothes officers in unmarked cars surrounded Reed’s SUV. Police first said he was stopped for not wearing a seat belt, but later city attorneys claimed it was due to illegally tinted windows.
The officers fired a total of 96 times, including after Reed exited his vehicle, fell to the ground, and stopped moving. One officer alone fired 50 shots. The entire shooting took about one minute.
Reed’s family has filed a wrongful death lawsuit, accusing police of using “brutally violent” tactics, failing to identify themselves, and not giving him medical care quickly enough. They also say officers had no valid reason to stop him and escalated the situation from the start.
Reed was a former high school and college basketball player who dreamed of becoming a sportscaster. His family described him as kind and caring, but also someone who struggled with health issues and post-traumatic stress disorder after surviving a 2021 shooting.
Community activists have called for the officers to be fired. The family’s lawyer, Andrew Stroth, said they are disappointed with the decision and will continue to push for justice. “This case shows a pattern of unconstitutional actions by Chicago Police tactical units,” he said.
Chicago police have not directly commented on the shooting investigation but said tactical units have been part of district patrols for years, often working in high-crime areas, sometimes in plainclothes. Burke emphasized that her office’s role was only to decide if a crime occurred—not to judge police tactics.
