In a tragic incident that occurred during a traffic stop in March, the family of 26-year-old Dexter Reed has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the Chicago Police Department. The federal complaint, spanning 81 pages, alleges that plainclothes police officers employed "brutally violent" policing tactics, violating multiple laws and department policies.

The incident, described as a "predatory, violent, unlawful traffic stop," ended in Reed's fatal shooting after officers fired their guns almost 100 times. The footage released by a police oversight agency has raised questions about the officers' use of force and the tactics employed by unmarked police car squads.

Community activists have called for the immediate termination of the officers involved, as this incident resonates with the killing of another young Black man. The Cook County state's attorney's office is currently conducting an investigation, while the five officers have been placed on 30 days of administrative leave.

The lawsuit highlights a series of alleged misconduct by the officers. It claims that they failed to properly identify themselves as police officers during the traffic stop, lacked reasonable suspicion to stop Reed's vehicle, escalated the situation by immediately drawing guns and shouting profanity-laced commands, and neglected to provide timely medical care.

The family's lawsuit further alleges that the Chicago Police Department promotes "brutally violent, militarized policing tactics," and that the officers' actions created an environment that directly led to Reed's death.

Little information has been released by the police regarding the shooting, other than noting an "exchange of gunfire." The Civilian Office of Police Accountability revealed that Reed had fired the first shot, prompting officers to respond with a barrage of 96 shots in just 41 seconds. Reed was subsequently pronounced dead at a hospital.

The officers involved were part of a district tactical unit, known for working in plainclothes and being deployed to high-crime areas. The lawsuit claims that these units have a history of problematic behavior, specifically targeting young Black men in divested and low-income neighborhoods.

In response to growing scrutiny, Police Superintendent Larry Snelling disbanded a similar citywide unit earlier this year. Similar elite units of plainclothes officers have also faced criticism in other parts of the country.

The lawsuit has been filed against the city of Chicago, the police department, and the five officers directly involved in the shooting. Both the police and the city declined to comment, citing pending litigation. John Catanzara, president of the Chicago police officers' union, expressed support for the officers and suggested they counter-sue.

Reed's family is seeking a jury trial and unspecified monetary damages. Reed's mother, Nicole Banks, expressed her anguish during a news conference, stating that she has been unable to sleep since the shooting and repeatedly watched videos of the incident.

Described as a kind and caring person, Reed was a former high school and college basketball player with aspirations of becoming a sportscaster. The lawsuit also notes that Reed suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder following a previous incident in 2021, which may have influenced his response to the police.

Beyond this incident, Reed was also facing felony gun charges stemming from a July 2023 arrest. However, the family's attorney declined to discuss these charges, deeming them irrelevant to the lawsuit. Instead, the family is primarily focused on ensuring that the police department complies with a court-supervised reform plan.

As the legal proceedings move forward, the tragic death of Dexter Reed continues to shed light on the pressing need for police accountability and reforms to address the use of force in law enforcement.