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By Darius Spearman (africanelements)
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96 Shots in 41 Seconds: The Killing of Dexter Reed
On March 21, 2024, another Black life was tragically cut short by Chicago police. Dexter Reed, only 26 years old, was driving his vehicle when plainclothes officers initiated a traffic stop. The initial reason given was a seatbelt violation. However, this justification later shifted to tinted windows, raising immediate questions about the stop’s legitimacy. Bodycam footage reveals a rapid, aggressive escalation by officers who approached Reed’s car without clearly identifying themselves (‘Open the Door Now!’: Plainclothes Chicago Cops Fired 96 Rounds…). This encounter ended with officers firing an astonishing 96 rounds in just 41 seconds.
Dexter Reed was struck 13 times by the hail of bullets. An autopsy confirmed the devastating impact: four shots hit his buttocks, two struck his chest, thigh, and leg each, and one hit his shoulder and knee (Dexter Reed shot 13 times in CPD traffic stop, death ruled a homicide). His death was ruled a homicide. While police later stated a handgun was recovered from Reed’s vehicle, crucially, no available video evidence shows him holding or brandishing a weapon during the stop (Killing of Dexter Reed). Furthermore, reports indicate officers continued firing even as Reed appeared to exit the car with his hands raised and after he had already collapsed to the ground (‘Open the Door Now!’: Plainclothes Chicago Cops Fired 96 Rounds…). The sheer volume of gunfire raises serious concerns about excessive force.
Dexter Reed Shooting: By the Numbers
Dexter Reed Settlement Under Scrutiny
In the aftermath of this tragic event, the City of Chicago proposed a $1.25 million settlement to Dexter Reed’s family. This move aimed to resolve potential legal claims stemming from the shooting. However, the proposed settlement has become a point of contention within the Chicago City Council (‘Open the Door Now!’: Plainclothes Chicago Cops Fired 96 Rounds…). Some council members are questioning whether the payout is justified, suggesting the city might reject the agreement.
Critics, including voices echoed in the *Chicago Tribune*, argue that Reed allegedly “shot first,” a claim used to absolve the officers of liability (‘Open the Door Now!’: Plainclothes Chicago Cops Fired 96 Rounds…). This narrative, however, conflicts with the lack of video evidence showing Reed firing a weapon. Conversely, other aldermen are warning against rejecting the settlement. They caution that taking the case to a jury could result in a significantly higher payout for the city if the officers are found liable for wrongful death (‘Open the Door Now!’: Plainclothes Chicago Cops Fired 96 Rounds…). Ultimately, the debate highlights the deep divisions over police conduct and city liability.
Wrongful Death Lawsuit Exposes Racial Profiling Police Stops
Dexter Reed’s family isn’t waiting for the city’s decision on the settlement. They have filed a federal wrongful death lawsuit, asserting the traffic stop itself was unconstitutional (Dexter Reed shot 13 times in CPD traffic stop, death ruled a homicide; ‘Open the Door Now!’: Plainclothes Chicago Cops Fired 96 Rounds…). The lawsuit argues that the stop was “pretextual,” meaning officers used a minor alleged infraction—tinted windows or a seatbelt violation—as an excuse to investigate Reed without valid suspicion of a more serious crime. This practice is widely criticized for enabling racial profiling, disproportionately targeting Black and Brown communities.
Indeed, Chicago’s Civilian Office of Police Accountability (COPA) initially raised concerns about the stop’s justification. COPA later revealed the officers involved lacked a valid reason to suspect Reed of wrongdoing before they aggressively escalated the encounter (‘Open the Door Now!’: Plainclothes Chicago Cops Fired 96 Rounds…; Killing of Dexter Reed). While records show Reed had a revoked Firearm Owner’s Identification (FOID) card and previous charges, this doesn’t automatically justify the stop or the lethal force used, especially given the lack of video evidence corroborating police claims he brandished a gun (Killing of Dexter Reed). Therefore, the family’s lawsuit positions Reed’s death within a larger pattern of discriminatory policing practices.
Understanding Pretextual Stops
What is a Pretextual Stop? It’s when police use a minor traffic violation (like tinted windows, a broken taillight, or expired registration) as an excuse—a pretext—to stop someone and investigate unrelated suspicions, like drug possession or outstanding warrants (Justice Forward Virginia; Randall & Bruch, PC).
Why are they controversial? Critics argue these stops allow for racial profiling, as officers may target individuals based on race under the guise of a minor traffic offense. They contribute to over-policing in minority communities.
- These stops let officers investigate non-traffic crimes during minor traffic stops ([PDF] pretext stops – City of San Diego).
- Some places, like Virginia, have limited pretextual stops for certain minor issues (Justice Forward Virginia).
Chicago Police Accountability: An Officer Walks Free?
The question of accountability looms large in the Dexter Reed case. One of the officers involved in the fatal shooting, Alexandra Giampapa, resigned from the Chicago Police Department in November 2024. Strikingly, she subsequently joined a police force in Tipp City, Ohio, apparently after passing a background check (Officer Involved in Dexter Reed Shooting Resigned CPD Job, Hired by Ohio Department). This move effectively allowed her to sidestep any potential disciplinary action from CPD related to Reed’s death.
Reed’s family has strongly criticized this development, highlighting it as a failure of accountability. They point out that Giampapa and other officers involved remain employed in law enforcement despite documented aggressive tactics (Officer Involved in Dexter Reed Shooting Resigned CPD Job, Hired by Ohio Department). Furthermore, the family’s lawsuit underscores a disturbing history, noting that the officers involved in Reed’s shooting had accumulated 24 prior complaints against them for alleged “unwarranted and unconstitutional stops,” often targeting minorities (‘Open the Door Now!’: Plainclothes Chicago Cops Fired 96 Rounds…). This pattern raises serious questions about supervision and whether warning signs were ignored long before the deadly encounter with Dexter Reed. Unfortunately, the specific outcomes of these prior complaints were not detailed in the available information.
Prior Complaints Against Involved Officers
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Darius Spearman is a professor of Black Studies at San Diego City College, where he has been teaching since 2007. He is the author of several books, including Between The Color Lines: A History of African Americans on the California Frontier Through 1890. You can visit Darius online at africanelements.org.
