He was the first to shoot at cops

The case of Dexter Reed highlights the potential for an anti-police narrative to arise in various situations.

Unlike many other cases, Reed was not an unarmed man in a situation that went awry.

There was no mistaken suspicion of a weapon that led to tragic results.

The police did not initiate the gunfire.

During a traffic stop in Chicago, 26-year-old Reed opened fire on officers with a gun before being fatally shot in return.

The primary rule during traffic stops – and other encounters with law enforcement – is to comply with police instructions, but the fundamental rule is never to shoot at the police.

Despite this, the media has focused on the number of shots fired by the officers after the shootout began, often with misleading headlines, and advocacy groups have criticized what they see as unnecessary traffic stops.

Less attention has been given to why Reed chose to shoot at the police and his previous gun charges, which are rarely mentioned in news reports.

An article from NBC 5 Chicago stands out, mentioning Reed’s prior charges and release on pretrial conditions. This information is crucial in understanding the context of the incident.

CBS News in Chicago had a misleading headline asking why the traffic stop with Dexter Reed escalated quickly. Shootouts typically don’t evolve slowly.

The police tactics were not optimal in this case. It was unusual for them to block Reed’s car from the front instead of pulling him over and approaching from the rear, which is safer. The traffic stop for a seat belt violation appeared to be a pretext.

Despite Reed’s noncompliance with police instructions, the officers suspected he had contraband in his car, which turned out to be true.

Traffic stops always pose a danger to law enforcement, as demonstrated by the recent murder of NYPD officer Jonathan Diller. Noncompliance raises suspicions about a driver’s intentions.

Reed’s tinted windows obstructed visibility, causing the officers to perceive him as a potential threat. His actions in drawing and firing a weapon ultimately led to his demise.

Reed’s sister mentioned that he was scared, but in such situations, compliance rather than aggression is the expected response.

Once Reed initiated gunfire towards the police, he became a serious threat. He hit one officer and fired all his rounds, posing a severe danger to the officers.

The police were justified in returning fire as it was necessary to neutralize the threat. In chaotic situations with high adrenaline, precise targeting of shots is not always feasible for officers.

While some criticize the officers for firing when Reed no longer had his gun, it would have been challenging to assess the situation accurately in the moment.

It is unrealistic to expect officers to do anything other than defend themselves when faced with gunfire. The circumstances officers face in such life-threatening situations are intense and require quick decisions to protect themselves and others.

Overall, Dexter Reed’s death was avoidable if he had not posed a threat to the officers by initiating the gunfight.

Twitter: @RichLowry