An autopsy report released on Thursday shed light on the tragic incident that occurred during a traffic stop in Chicago last month. The report revealed that Dexter Reed, a 26-year-old man, was shot 13 times by plainclothes Chicago police officers who fired their guns nearly 100 times.
The shooting, which took place on March 21, has sparked outrage and protests, with activists demanding the dismissal of the five officers involved. Reed's family has filed a wrongful death lawsuit, raising questions about the use of plainclothes tactical squads by law enforcement.
Both a police oversight agency and the Cook County state's attorney are currently conducting investigations into the incident. The Civilian Office of Police Accountability, responsible for investigating police shootings, recently released videos and documents from the traffic stop. According to the office, Reed allegedly fired at the officers first after being pulled over for not wearing a seatbelt. In response, the officers fired 96 shots in just 41 seconds, resulting in Reed's death, which was classified as a homicide.
The autopsy report revealed that Reed sustained multiple gunshot wounds, including five to his legs, four to his buttocks, two to his chest, and hits to his back and shoulder. Additionally, a toxicology screen showed the presence of THC, the main psychoactive component of marijuana, in Reed's system.
Details surrounding the shooting remain scarce, with police disclosing minimal information about the incident. One officer was injured during the altercation, and all officers involved have been placed on 30-day administrative leave pending further investigations.
