'Nothing but plain murder': Chicago police bodycam footage shows moment officers fired 96 shots at Dexter Reed

Chicago is reeling from the release of shocking body cam footage revealing the deadly aftermath of a routine traffic stop in which officers of Chicago police fired a staggering 96 shots at 26-year-old Dexter Reed, killing him.

Excessive force

Amid a fierce debate over the use of excessive force, the preliminary inquiry, as per CNN, suggests that the driver opened fire on the officers first. However, his family and attorneys have questioned why multiple plain-clothed officers swarmed his car with guns drawn, firing a barrage of bullets at him.

The fatal incident unfolded in Chicago's Garfield Park neighbourhood on March 21 and has since raised troubling questions about police conduct and accountability.

Newly revealed bodycam recordings, made public on Tuesday (Apr 9) by Chicago's Civilian Office of Police Accountability, paint a vivid and unsettling picture of the encounter.

In one video, an officer wearing a hooded jacket, a baseball cap and a tactical vest with a badge on it can be heard repeatedly instructing Reed to lower his window as the tension escalates. Footage also shows multiple officers drawing their firearms, demanding that Reed unlock his doors.

However, moments later, chaos erupts as dozens of shots are fired at Reed in rapid succession.

Once the gunfire subsides, the 26-year-old can be seen lying motionless face down behind his vehicle. An officer can be heard claiming, "He started shooting at us," as another examines Reed's car and discovers a firearm inside.

"The gun's right there," says the officer, shining a flashlight into the car.

An officer was shot in the wrist during the altercation, and was hospitalised in good condition, said the Chicago police.

Here's the video

BWC 1 | Shooting Officer 1 ... Log #2024-0003052

... This is the bodycam video of the Chicago police officer who was shot at the start of the "exchange of gunfire" with Dexter Reed, who died ...

Log# 2024-0003052https://t.co/UkaerAfcCb#ChicagoScanner #chicago #police… https://t.co/Dp8f5t8k0B pic.twitter.com/nOkPKdxw9z — SubX.News (@SubxNews) April 9, 2024

Spiralling into chaos

What began as a routine traffic stop, reportedly for a seatbelt violation, quickly spiralled into a deadly confrontation.

According to the Civilian Office of Police Accountability, "Preliminary reports indicate that this incident began when five Chicago Police officers assigned to an 11th District tactical unit engaged in a traffic stop of Dexter Reed, Jr. for purportedly not wearing a seatbelt".

In response, officers discharged their weapons approximately 96 times in just 41 seconds, resulting in Reed's tragic demise.

"Upon stopping Mr Reed, multiple officers surrounded his vehicle while giving verbal commands. When Mr Reed did not comply with these commands, officers pointed their firearms at Mr Reed and ultimately there was an exchange of gunfire which left Mr Reed dead and an officer shot in the forearm," added the agency responsible for investigating allegations of police misconduct and all police shootings.

The release of the bodycam footage has sparked outrage and renewed scrutiny of police tactics. Reed's family and their legal team have condemned the officers' actions, questioning the need for such a forceful response to a minor traffic violation.

"Dexter was pulled over for failing to wear his seat belt. Now this leaves many, many questions," said their attorney Steven Hart.

"Why were tactical officers jumping out of an unmarked police car with their guns drawn for a simple traffic violation of not wearing a seatbelt?" he asked.

"After he was shot up … you added clips to your gun? That is nothing but plain murder to me," said Reed's uncle Roosevelt Banks.

The police department in a statementsaid that the shooting is under investigation, while the Cook County State's Attorney Kim Foxx said that it is their job to determine whether the officers will face criminal charges.

"Our Law Enforcement Accountability Division – also called LEAD – will carefully examine the totality of the circumstances and determine whether the force used here by the officers was warranted or constitute grounds for criminal charges."

(With inputs from agencies)