A young black man was killed by gunfire during a police stop. The debate about police violence in the USA is heating up again.
Chicago – The debate about police violence has reignited again in the USA. The trigger is the death of 26-year-old Dexter Reed from Chicago. During a police stop, officers fired 96 shots at him within 41 seconds. The incident happened on March 21st. The Chicago Civilian Office of Police Accountability (COPA) only released video footage of the shooting on Tuesday (April 9, local time). The agency has jurisdiction over police misconduct and shootings.
Scandal video shows: Police officers shoot black people with 96 bullets
According to the department, police stopped Reed for not wearing a seatbelt. In several body camera videos, officers can be seen getting out of a civilian vehicle and surrounding Reed's car. The officers ask him to unlock and open the door. “When Mr. Reed failed to comply with these commands, the officers pointed their firearms at Mr. Reed,” a COPA spokeswoman said at a press conference on the case. The officers can be seen retreating as they continue to ask Reed to exit his vehicle. Then suddenly shots are heard.
COPA said an initial review of the footage appears to confirm that Reed fired first. He is said to have hit one of the officers, who then fired back. A gun was later found in Reed's passenger seat. The video shows him staggering out of the vehicle before collapsing on the street. He was pronounced dead in the hospital a short time later.
Family mourns Dexter Reed: “He just drove around in his car”
The family is shocked by the violence against Reed: "He was just driving around in his car," said Dexter's mother, Nicole Banks, in tears on Tuesday in an interview with
Fox32 Chicago
: "They killed him." The family's lawyer Andrew Stroth heavily criticized the police's actions and accused them of misconduct.
The 26-year-old's death has reignited debate and anger over police brutality and excessive use of force in the US and led to protests outside a Chicago police station. Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson said he was shocked that another young black man lost his life in an interaction with police. Johnson said he spoke with Reed's family over the weekend and advocated for a "transparent" investigation. This is currently still ongoing.
In the USA, police violence - especially against black people - is a massive problem. In 2020, the violent killing of African American George Floyd by police officer Derek Chauvin led to demonstrations worldwide. Three years after the violent killing, the United States Department of Justice concluded in 2023 that it was not an isolated incident. Officials would use excessive force against minorities.
Police violence is also regularly discussed in Germany. The Copwatch initiative from Frankfurt denounces racial profiling and wants to contribute to a cultural change.
(jus)