The streets of Chicago's Humboldt Park neighborhood became the site of a deadly confrontation last month when Dexter Reed, 26, was shot 13 times by police during a traffic stop, autopsy results confirmed. The Cook County medical examiner’s office revealed the wounds, which included four shots to the buttocks, two to the chest, as well as hits in the right thigh, right leg, back, left shoulder, and left knee, FOX 32 Chicago reported.
During the altercation, which unfolded over a purported seatbelt violation, Reed reportedly shot an officer in the wrist before four other officers discharged nearly 100 rounds in retaliation, lasting a mere 41 seconds, according to the Civilian Office of Police Accountability (COPA). In addition, a toxicology screen revealed the presence of Delta-9 THC, a psychoactive compound found in marijuana, in Reed’s system at the time of his death, the Chicago Tribune stated.
Reed's family has since filed a federal lawsuit, alleging that the officer's use of force was excessive and a violation of Reed’s civil rights. Body-worn camera footage released earlier this month by COPA captured the exchange, including an officer firing at Reed after he had fallen motionless to the pavement. One of those officers is said to have fired at least 50 times, and three reloaded their weapons during the incident.
Reed's killing has sparked a raft of protests and scrutiny over the CPD's traffic stop policies. COPA indicated that the validity of the initial traffic stop was questionable, considering the officers’ positioning and tinted windows of Reed’s vehicle. “These results of today’s autopsy demonstrate that these officers used excessive and unreasonable force," Reed family attorney Andrew M. Stroth told the Chicago Tribune. Following the incident, Andrea Kersten of COPA suggested that the four officers involved in the shooting be stripped of their police powers while the investigation continues.
Police Superintendent Larry Snelling has emphasized that the department is fully cooperating with COPA's investigation, which historically can take months to more than a year to conclude. In the aftermath, CPD reported initiating significantly fewer traffic stops in the first months of 2024 as compared to the previous year, although felony arrests have seen an uptick.
