Jerrell Thomas, 37, has been charged with first-degree murder in the Nov. 29 death of Oak Park police detective Allan Reddins. A Chicago resident, Thomas has an extensive criminal background including arrests for aggravated battery to a police officer, domestic battery, battery and resisting a police officer.
The Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office charged Thomas with first-degree murder in the line-of-duty death of Reddins. Thomas has also been charged with attempted murder of a peace officer, possession of a stolen firearm and unlawful use of a weapon by a felon.
Reddins, 40, was shot Friday, Nov. 29 when Reddens and other officers responded to a police call after Thomas was allegedly seen leaving the Chase Bank on Lake Street with a gun. The shooting took place on the 800 block of Lake Street.
Reddins, who was shot on his left side, was taken to Loyola Medical Center and was pronounced dead at 10:10 a.m. Friday. Thomas, of the 4100 block of West Cermak Road in Chicago, was shot in the leg, treated on the scene and then was transported to Loyola where he is in stable condition. No bond hearing has been set while he remains hospitalized.
The village government reported Saturday that an investigation shows that as Reddins and other officers approached Thomas, he failed to comply with officers’ directives and began to shoot, striking Reddins on the left side of his body. Reddins had been a member of the department since 2019 and was promoted to detective in 2022.
Reddins was the first Oak Park police officer to die in the line of duty since 1938.
Following Oak Park police policy, the Illinois State Police Public Integrity Task Force was called in to assist with the investigation of the shooting.
