Oak Park has released footage from body-worn cameras from five police officers and sergeants who were on the scene last Nov. 29, the day Det. Allan Reddins was shot and killed in the line of duty.
The five officers, including Reddins, were on the scene as Reddins defended himself from a shooter on Lake Street.
The videos show how Oak Park police approached a potential shooter and illustrate how patrols from Oak Park and nearby villages rushed to the shooting scene that was over in about five minutes.
According to police, Chicago resident Jerell Thomas entered Chase Bank on that day, where he was approached by a manager who thought he was acting suspiciously. Thomas displayed a gun and left. Oak Park police were contacted.
The earliest video begins at 9:34 a.m., and shows Reddins parking near the library while a dispatcher described Thomas as wearing “khaki-colored blue jeans, white shoes walking toward Oak Park library.” Reddins and another officer, Sgt. Manny Ruiz Jr., were among the first to approach Thomas near the Oak Park Public Library on Lake Street.
Ruiz asked to speak with Thomas, who asked how Ruiz is doing. Thomas started reaching into his jacket.
Reddins yelled to Thomas to not to reach for his gun, saying “Don’t reach, bro. Don’t reach. Keep your hands up.” Ruiz also warned Thomas not to reach.
Thomas’ sister had reported the gun in Thomas’ possession, a .40 caliber pistol, stolen to Chicago police a few days prior to the shooting.
Reddins backed up, pointing his gun, as Thomas walked toward him and Ruiz.
At 9:35 a.m. a gunshot was fired. Reddins fell. Thomas started to flee.
At about that time, Oak Park Officer Michael Kelly and Sgt. Derrick Verge raced to the scene. According to a video, an officer shouts for Thomas to drop his weapon, but Thomas is heard yelling back at police.
A minute later, Oak Park Officer Miguel Barrera took cover behind a police car on Lake Street and fired four times.
Within two minutes, Verge, the last to arrive on the scene, approached the library from the east. He shot twice, striking Thomas in the leg.
After that, Thomas, who was handcuffed by police, can be seen in body camera footage on the ground with at least five officers standing in the vicinity. The police officers applied a tourniquet to his right leg and retrieved Thomas’ gun from under a nearby bench.
Thomas was charged with first-degree murder for Reddins’ death. According to ABC7 Chicago, Thomas is due back in court in March.
Reddins was honored by friends, family and colleagues during a wake and a funeral in December 2024.
Oak Park officials suggest interested parties contact the village via email at village@oak-park.us for more information or to access the footage.