A 37-year-old male resident of Chicago has been apprehended in connection with the fatal shooting of Oak Park Police Detective Allan Reddins, as announced by authorities on Saturday. Jerell Thomas faces multiple charges, including first-degree murder, attempted murder of a police officer, possession of a stolen firearm, and unlawful use of a weapon by a convicted felon, all relating to this case, according to statements from the Oak Park police department.
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Investigators have described Thomas as a “habitual criminal,” noting his extensive record of multiple arrests for aggravated battery against a police officer, domestic battery, battery, and resisting a police officer.
On Friday morning, around 9:30 a.m., Detective Allan Reddins, 40, of Chicago, was killed while attempting to apprehend a suspect. He and other officers had received a report of an individual seen leaving Chase Bank with a gun in the 1000 block of Lake Street. When Reddins and the other officers requested the suspect to show his hands, the suspect brandished a weapon in the 800 block of Lake Street, according to police reports.
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Reddins was shot on the left side and transported to Loyola University Medical Center in critical condition, according to police. He passed away around 10:10 a.m. Authorities reported that the male suspect sustained a gunshot wound to the leg. He is currently in custody and receiving treatment at Loyola, where he is in stable condition, according to police. The police cordoned off the area to conduct their investigation on Friday.
Reddins’ passing represents the first line-of-duty death for the Oak Park Police Department in 85 years, as stated by the department. He became an officer in May 2019 and was known as a committed family man. He is survived by his 19-year-old son, as noted by Oak Park police at an emotional news conference on Friday evening.
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“The City of Chicago would like to offer our deepest condolences to the family, friends, and colleagues at the Oak Park Police Department for the tragic loss of Police Detective Allan Reddins, who was killed in the line of duty today.” -Mayor Brandon Johnson per ABC7 news.
The Oak Park Police have not released further details about the investigation into the events leading up to the fatal encounter. As the community mourns Detective Reddins, the investigation continues. Authorities urge anyone with information to call Oak Park police at 708-386-3800.cused on mourning Detective Redding. The investigation continues, and anyone with information should call Oak Park police at 708-386-3800.
