OAK PARK, Ill. — A Chicago man, aged 37, has been charged with first-degree murder following the fatal shooting of a police detective in a suburban area.
Detective Allan Reddins, serving with the Oak Park Police Department, was shot on Friday morning while responding to a report concerning an individual armed with a gun near a bank in the suburb located just west of Chicago. Despite being rushed to a local hospital, Reddins succumbed to his injuries.
The Cook County state’s attorney’s office announced on Saturday that Jerell Thomas, the suspect, has been charged not only with first-degree murder but also with attempted murder directed at a law enforcement officer, as well as possession of a stolen firearm and being a felon in possession of a firearm.
Authorities in Oak Park contend that Thomas opened fire as he was approached by Detective Reddins along with other law enforcement officers. Thomas sustained a leg injury during the incident and was reported to still be hospitalized on Sunday; his injuries, however, are not life-threatening.
At this time, a bond hearing for Thomas has not been scheduled, and efforts to reach him via phone were unsuccessful due to a disconnected number. An email seeking his comments was also left unanswered over the weekend.
Police officials describe Thomas as a “habitual criminal,” with a history of arrests that include aggravated battery against a police officer, domestic battery, battery, and resisting arrest.
Detective Reddins, at the age of 40, holds the unfortunate distinction of being the first Oak Park police officer to be shot in the line of duty since 1938. He had been a member of the Oak Park Police Department since 2019.
