A Chicago police officer was recently killed after responding to an incident at a bank involving an armed individual. The shooting that claimed 40-year-old Oak Park Police Detective Allan Reddins occurred on Friday, marking the first death of a law enforcement officer for the police department since 1938. The suspect was apprehended shortly after and charged.
According to reports, Jerell Thomas, 37, was charged with first-degree murder after the incident, with sources claiming the man had an “extensive criminal background.” Reddins, along with several other officers confronted the suspect who was leaving a Chase Bank. Reportedly, when the suspect was asked to show his hands, he drew a weapon and opened fire, fatally striking Reddins.
The Oak Park Police Department wrote on Facebook, “A 37-year old Chicago man with an extensive criminal background has been charged in the shooting death of an Oak Park Police officer during an encounter on Fri., Nov. 29 on the 800 block of Lake Street in Oak Park. Jerell Thomas, of the 4100 block of W. Cermak Rd. in Chicago, has been charged by the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office with first-degree murder in connection with the line-of-duty death of Oak Park Detective Allan Reddins.”
Oak Park Police Chief Shatonya Johnson held a press conference to address the tragic death of Reddins. “We are mourning the loss of our beloved Allan Reddins,” she said. “He was killed in the line of duty today serving and protecting the community that he’s so cherished. Alan was 40 years old and a devoted father. He leaves behind to mourn his loss, his 19 year old son, his mother and siblings as well as a host of friends and officers.”
Speaking about Reddins successful career in law enforcement, she continued, “Alan started his career here with Oak Park Police Department on the 15th of May 2019, prior to being a police officer with the village of Oak Park. He did a short stint with Metro Police Department. My heart goes out to those officers that he served with, but more importantly, the work that he did here was so impactful. I personally knew Allan because I did his background investigation and I quickly identified that he had a talent that was needed here.”
“I was a committed officer who became a detective a few years ago. He closed substantial cases and helped us to resolve countless incidents. He was a natural today, at about 9am He responded to the call to a call for service for a man with a gun leaving the Chase Bank on Lake Street,” Johnson continued, praising Reddins. “He, as well as several officers, encountered that offender on the 800 block of Lake Street, after trying to direct the the offender to show them his hands, the offender banished a firearm and shot officer Redding at 10:10, Officer Reddins was pronounced deceased.”
Johnson concluded, “The offender was injured during this incident, was treated on the scene before being transported to the hospital. I want to thank our vice our fire department, as well as all of the officers locally at a distance, our police department. We’re hurting right now. I’m hurting. His family is hurting. Please keep us in your prayers, and I think you are.”
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