Photo: RiverNorthPhotography / iStock Unreleased / Getty Images
Video released on Tuesday (April 9) showed Chicago police officers shooting over 90 rounds in less than a minute, killing a Black man during a traffic stop. The deadly confrontation unfolded on March 21 when five police officers pulled over 26-year-old Dexter Reed Jr. for "purportedly not wearing a seatbelt," according to Chicago's Civilian Office of Police Accountability (COPA), per WMAQ-TV.
Several police officers surrounded Reed's vehicle and repeatedly asked Reed to roll down his window in the footage. They started demanding he unlock his car, and Reed can be heard saying, "Okay, I'm trying to." During these orders, officers kept pulling on the car door handle and some even backed away and drew their firearms.
Gunfire then rings out, and police take cover and start shooting, according to the videos. At one point, an officer appeared to have blood running down his arm.
COPA reported that officers fired 96 rounds in 41 seconds. The shooting continued even after Reed got out of his vehicle and fell to the ground.
The 26-year-old Black man suffered multiple gunshot wounds and was later pronounced dead. CPD Superintendant Larry Snelling said an officer was shot in the wrist.
WARNING: The video below contains graphic content. Viewer discretion advised.
COPA claims Reed fired first, triggering the exchange of gunfire. Officials said they also recovered a gun from his vehicle after the deadly shooting.
"When Mr. Reed did not comply with these commands, officers pointed their firearms at Mr. Reed and ultimately there was an exchange of gunfire which left Mr. Reed dead and an officer shot in the forearm," COPA said in a news release.
According to WMAQ-TV, Reed was on a pretrial release over gun charges from 2023. He appeared in court days before the shooting and had a status hearing in April.
Attorneys representing Reed's family called for "a criminal indictment against some of these officers" during a Tuesday press conference.
"What we witnessed on the video that we watched with the family yesterday was tactical officers, plainclothes, unmarked SUV, wearing hoodies and baseball caps, pulling over Dexter, for not wearing a seatbelt. These officers never announced they were police officers," attorney Andrew Stroth said.
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson confirmed the officers involved in the deadly traffic stop were put on a 30-day administrative leave.
Chicago police said the shooting remains under investigation.
The Black Information Network is your source for Black News! Get the latest news 24/7 on The Black Information Network. Listen now on the iHeartRadio app or click HERE to tune in live.