The family of Dexter Reed, a 26-year-old Black man who was fatally shot by Chicago police during a traffic stop, has filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against the city and five police officers. The 81-page lawsuit alleges that the officers conducted an unlawful traffic stop and used excessive force in the shooting incident.
The lawsuit, filed in the US District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division, also accuses the city of engaging in unconstitutional traffic stops and using excessive and escalatory force. It further claims that the city violated the Americans with Disabilities Act, citing Reed's diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder.
Civil rights attorney Andrew M. Stroth, speaking on behalf of Reed's family, emphasized that Reed's death was a result of the officers' actions and the city's inactions. Stroth expressed the family's desire to prevent similar tragedies from occurring in the future.
The fatal shooting took place during a traffic stop where Reed was allegedly pulled over for a seatbelt violation. The Civilian Office of Police Accountability released body-camera footage showing Reed apparently firing at the officers, who then returned fire with as many as 96 shots in 41 seconds. Reed was pronounced dead at a hospital, while one officer sustained a gunshot wound to the wrist.
The incident remains under investigation by the Civilian Office of Police Accountability, with Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx also looking into potential criminal charges against the officers involved. The city of Chicago has refrained from commenting on the lawsuit, stating that it has not yet been served with the complaint and does not comment on pending litigation.
