Oak Park Releases Bodycam Video of Fatal Police Shooting

The village of Oak Park, Illinois, has released body camera footage from a November 2024 shooting that resulted in the death of Detective Allan Reddins. The incident occurred on Nov. 29, 2024, when Reddins and other officers responded to reports of an armed robbery involving a suspect leaving a bank with a gun.

The video, which may be disturbing to some viewers, shows Detective Reddins confronting the suspect, Jerell Thomas, before being fatally shot. The footage, captured on Reddins’ bodycam, freezes just as the detective begins to fall after being struck. Other responding officers subsequently shot Thomas, who was taken into custody and now faces multiple charges, including first-degree murder.

Thomas, who was also injured in the incident, is scheduled to appear in court in March 2025. The release of the bodycam video has sparked discussions about police transparency and the risks officers face in the line of duty.

Detective Reddins, a veteran of the Oak Park Police Department, was remembered by colleagues and community members for his dedication to public safety. The department has not yet commented on whether additional footage from other officers’ bodycams will be released.