Chicago Officers Cleared in Fatal Shooting of Dexter Reed Despite Nearly 100 Rounds Fired

Prosecutors have cleared five Chicago officers who fired nearly 100 rounds during a 2024 traffic stop that killed Dexter Reed. Officials say Reed fired first, but his family disputes the account, alleging excessive force and wrongful death. The case has reignited debate over Chicago police tactics and accountability.

Five Chicago police officers will not face criminal charges in the 2024 fatal shooting of Dexter Reed, a 26-year-old Black man killed during a traffic stop in which nearly 100 shots were fired. Cook County State’s Attorney Eileen O’Neill Burke announced the decision Wednesday, citing “clear and overwhelming evidence” that Reed fired first.

The incident occurred on March 21, 2024, when plainclothes tactical officers in unmarked vehicles surrounded Reed’s SUV. Prosecutors say Reed fired 11 rounds from an illegally obtained gun, injuring one officer. The officers responded with 96 shots in less than a minute, including continued fire after Reed exited his vehicle, fell, and lay motionless. One officer alone fired 50 rounds.

Reed was struck 13 times in the legs and chest, according to the medical examiner. Conflicting accounts emerged about the reason for the stop, initially described as a seat belt violation but later linked to tinted windows.

While prosecutors cleared the officers under Illinois criminal law, Reed’s family has filed a wrongful-death lawsuit, alleging excessive force, lack of proper identification, and failure to provide timely medical aid. They argue the shooting reflects a broader “pattern and practice of unconstitutional actions” by Chicago’s tactical units, citing parallels to past high-profile cases such as the killing of Laquan McDonald.

Reed, a former basketball player aspiring to become a sportscaster, was remembered by relatives as kind and resilient, having survived a previous shooting and struggled with post-traumatic stress disorder. Community activists have demanded the officers be fired, calling the decision not to prosecute a blow to police accountability.

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Chicago police have not commented directly on the case but maintain that tactical units are deployed to high-crime areas and may operate in plainclothes. Prosecutors stressed their role was to assess criminal conduct, not police strategy.