CHICAGO, IL – A routine traffic stop escalated into a fatal shootout in Chicago’s Humboldt Park neighborhood on Thursday evening, resulting in a police officer being wounded and a 26-year-old man losing his life. The injured officer, who was shot in the wrist, is reportedly in good condition in a local hospital, while four other officers were also hospitalized for precautionary observation.
The Cook County Medical Examiner’s office identified the deceased as 26-year-old Dexter Reed, who succumbed to multiple gunshot wounds approximately half an hour after the shooting. The incident unfolded around 6 p.m. when police officers pulled over a vehicle on the West Side of the city. Details regarding how many officers fired their weapons during the incident have yet to be released.
The Chicago Sun-Times reported that the ShotSpotter gunshot-detection system picked up more than 50 rounds during the incident, and police confirmed the recovery of a firearm from the scene.
In a later meeting of the Chicago Police Board, Superintendent Larry Snelling expressed his hope for the injured officer’s quick recovery. The Civilian Office of Police Accountability has initiated an investigation into the incident. In line with protocol following police-involved shootings, the officers involved will be assigned to administrative duties for the next 30 days.