Family of Dexter Reed files lawsuit against the city of Chicago and CPD

The family of Dexter Reed filed a federal civil rights lawsuit Wednesday against the city and five officers involved in the March 21 shooting in Humboldt Park that left Reed dead and a Chicago police officer injured.

The 81-page, 17-count lawsuit was announced Wednesday morning by the Reed family’s attorneys at a news conference outside the CPD’s Harrison District (11th) station. The lawsuit alleges Fourth Amendment violations by the five officers who stopped Reed’s SUV, as well as excessive force, denial of medical care, various Monell claims, a violation of the Illinois Civil Rights Act, willful and wanton conduct, assault, injuries and a violation. of the Americans With Disabilities Act.

“Defendant officers who initially approached Dexter’s vehicle responded in an outrageous manner in the escalation,” the complaint alleges. “They began by side-swiping Dexter’s car, aggressively approaching him in an unmarked vehicle, without any prior warning. They then, while wearing hoodies, jeans and other casual clothing, brandished their weapons in a threatening manner, shouted profanities at Dexter and attempted to unlawfully enter his vehicle. Defendant officers unlawfully pointed their weapons at Dexter, escalating the situation and exponentially increasing the risk of death for everyone – Dexter, defendant officers, and bystanders. Defendant officers then used grossly disproportionate force against Dexter – repeatedly shooting at him even when he clearly posed no threat.”

A spokesperson for the city’s legal department said the city was displeased and declined to comment.

Reed’s mother, Nicole Banks, told reporters on Wednesday that she had had trouble sleeping in recent weeks and that she had watched police bodycam footage of the shooting “over and over and over.”

“They executed him,” Banks said through tears. “He fell and they put handcuffs on him. That wasn’t right. In the name of Jesus I ask that he rest in peace.

“I am so hurt that they treated my son this way,” she added.

The newly filed lawsuit makes no mention of the shot to the CPD officer’s wrist. During the family’s press conference, two passing drivers shouted that Reed should not have shot first, prompting rebukes from Reed’s family and supporters.

The footage released this month shows Reed — reportedly stopped for not wearing a seat belt — shot an officer in the wrist before four other tactical officers opened fire, firing nearly 100 shots and killing the 26-year-old in block 3800. West Ferdinand Street.

Nearly five weeks after his death, Reed’s autopsy has not yet been publicly released and it remains unknown how many times he was shot.

In the month since the shooting, Reed’s death has led to calls from activists for the CPD to stop using plainclothes tactical officers and reexamine its traffic stop policies. The shooting has also exposed a rift between the leaders of the CPD and COPA.

Police bodycam footage shows the officers exiting an unmarked police vehicle, drawing their weapons and repeatedly ordering Reed to roll down the tinted windows of his SUV. Reed initially complied and rolled down his window, but appeared to ignore the officers’ commands to roll down the passenger side window.

Moments later, Reed appeared to shoot the CPD officer standing on the passenger side of the SUV. The other four officers then opened fire, shooting dozens of bullets at Reed, who exited the vehicle before falling to the sidewalk. An officer fired three more shots at Reed as he lay motionless in the street.

That officer – just 23 years old – fired at least 50 times during the 41 seconds of gunfire. He was one of three officers who reloaded their weapons, according to the Civilian Office of Police Accountability.

Cook County court records reviewed by the Tribune show that Reed, a former basketball player at Westinghouse College Prep and Morton College, claimed to have developed post-traumatic stress disorder after being injured in another shooting in August 2021 and left in a coma for a time . recovering at Mount Sinai Hospital.

Reed was also prohibited from possessing a firearm, and court records show that at the time of his death he had a pending gun possession case stemming from a July 2023 arrest near the United Center.