Chicago Man Charged in Shooting Death of Oak Park Detective
A 37-year-old Chicago man, Jerell Thomas, has been charged with first-degree murder in the shooting death of Detective Allan Reddins of the Oak Park Police Department. The tragic incident unfolded Friday morning in Oak Park, a suburb just west of Chicago, as Reddins responded to a report of an armed man leaving a local bank.
Details of the Shooting
According to authorities, Thomas opened fire as Reddins and other officers approached him. Detective Reddins was critically injured in the exchange and later died at a hospital. Thomas sustained a gunshot wound to the leg and remains hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries.
Legal Charges and Investigation
The Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office announced that Thomas faces multiple charges, including first-degree murder, attempted murder of a peace officer, possession of a stolen firearm, and possession of a firearm by a felon. Thomas, described by investigators as a habitual criminal, has a history of arrests for offenses such as aggravated battery of a police officer, domestic battery, battery, and resisting arrest.
Thomas is currently awaiting a court date, and no bond hearing has been scheduled. Efforts to contact him for comment have been unsuccessful.
Remembering Detective Allan Reddins
Detective Reddins, 40, had been a member of the Oak Park Police Department since 2019. His death marks a somber milestone as the first line-of-duty shooting fatality in the department since 1938.
Oak Park officials praised Reddins for his service and commitment to the community. “Detective Reddins represented the very best of law enforcement. His dedication to protecting Oak Park residents will be remembered, and his loss deeply felt,” an official statement read.
