The Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office has announced that no criminal charges will be filed against the Chicago police officers involved in the fatal shooting of Dexter Reed.
“This decision is not reached lightly, nor does it diminish the tragedy that has occurred,” State’s Attorney Eileen O’Neill Burke stated on Wednesday.
The incident occurred in March 2024 when five officers from a Chicago Police Department tactical unit conducted a traffic stop on Reed in the East Garfield Park neighborhood, reportedly for a seatbelt violation.
According to the Civilian Office of Police Accountability (COPA), the encounter escalated after Reed allegedly fired first at an officer. In response, four other officers fired approximately 96 shots over a period of 41 seconds.
An autopsy from the medical examiner found that Reed was struck 13 times. He was pronounced dead at Mt. Sinai Hospital.
The release of body camera footage of the shootout prompted public protests and calls for the officers involved to be stripped of their police powers. The initial findings from COPA indicated that Reed had fired the first shot.
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