Business owners on Lake Street feel a profound sense of grief for Det. Allan Reddins, who was killed in the line of duty by an armed offender Nov. 29.
Darien Marion-Burton, executive director of the Oak Park and River Forest Chamber of Commerce, said in an emailed statement, “I know the entire business community joins me in expressing our heartfelt sympathy for his family and the members of the Oak Park Police Department during this difficult time.”
Reddins, 40, died in a shooting after he responded to a call shortly after 9:30 a.m. about a man with a gun who was seen leaving Chase Bank. The shooting occurred about two blocks east of the bank.
Cristiane Pereira, owner of Mulata Kitchen + Coffee, located at the corner of Lake Street and Oak Park Avenue, said she has been deeply impacted by the tragic death of Reddins. Pereira, who opened her shop five and a half years ago, said she personally knew Reddins as a result of their interactions throughout the years. Whenever Reddins responded to calls at Mulata, he was always kind and helpful.
“He was a very nice person,” Pereira said. “He liked to talk. We had small talks, but good talks.”
Pereira said she last saw Reddins two weeks before the tragedy. Like always, she said, he stopped to speak with her and ask how things were going.
“He was a good police officer and a hard-working person,” she said. “It’s awful. He was an innocent person who was trying to defend his community.”
Pereira said the day of the shooting was “scary,” and the energy at her shop has not been the same since.
“It happened just steps away from our store, so we have felt more on edge,” she said.
Steve Qi, owner of Katy’s Dumplings, said he was at his restaurant when the shooting occurred, but they were not open yet.
“I was shocked and went to the police department to ask about doing a fundraiser for his family,” Qi said. “We feel so bad.”
Reddins, who was a customer, was “very friendly,” he said.
Katy’s Dumplings, 1113 Lake St, has been in business for more than 10 years. Although the tragic incident has been upsetting for Qi and his team, he said he still feels safe in Oak Park’s downtown area, like he always has.
Elli Bradshaw-Castillo, manager at Geppetto’s Toy Box, shared that same sentiment. Bradshaw-Castillo said their employees were “shaken up” on the day of the tragic shooting, but business has carried on as usual since.
“I have never felt unsafe here,” Bradshaw-Castillo said. “We have an emergency panic button, attached to our alarm system, and we have never used it in the six years that I’ve been here.”
Briar Gray, an employee at Classic Cinemas Lake Theatre, said about 300 people were at the theatre on the morning of Nov. 29, since they had two sold-out shows at 10 a.m.
“Thankfully, there was no chaos in here,” he said. “I didn’t hear anything from any patrons about it.”
According Patrick Mason, owner of Candycopia, the tragedy has had a big impact on him and his team. Det. Allan Reddins and his family have been on their minds, he said.
“We all felt misplaced that weekend,” he said. “It was hard to kick back into gear and pretend like that didn’t happen.”
For those interested in donating to support a fund for the Reddins family, Oak Park Lodge #8, Fraternal Order of Police is currently collecting donations via Zelle to the following email address: oakparklodge8@gmail.com. A QR code to contribute via Zelle is also available at www.oak-park.us/reddins. Money raised will go directly to a financial account that has been set up by the Fraternal Order of Police in support of the Reddins family, in particular for his son who attends college out of state and his mother who is receiving medical treatment. For more information, visit www.oakparkfop8.org or contact Lodge 8 Secretary Joseph Nash at oakparklodge8@gmail.com.
Jerell Thomas, 37, of Chicago, was charged with first-degree murder in connection with Reddins’ death. He was also charged with attempted murder of a peace officer, possession of a stolen firearm, and unlawful use of a weapon by a felon. Reddins’ death is the first in the line of duty of an Oak Park Police Officer since 1938.