Jerell Thomas
OAK LAWN, Ill. - A Chicago man has been charged with first-degree murder in the fatal shooting of an Oak Park police detective Friday morning.
Jerell Thomas, 37, was charged in connection with the death of 40-year-old Detective Allan Reddins. Thomas faces additional charges of attempted murder of a peace officer, possession of a stolen firearm and unlawful use of a weapon by a felon.
Reddins, who had been with the Oak Park Police Department since 2019, was shot after responding to a report of a person with a gun leaving a Chase Bank on the 1000 block of Lake Street. He was transported to Loyola Medical Center, where he later died.
Investigators said that as Reddins and other officers approached Thomas a few blocks away from the bank, he refused to follow their commands and opened fire, striking Reddins. This marks the first line-of-duty death for an Oak Park police officer since 1938.
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Oak Park police detective killed in shooting while responding to armed suspect: officials
An Oak Park police officer was fatally shot in the line of duty Friday morning by a suspect leaving a Chase Bank, authorities said.
RELATED: Oak Park police detective killed in shooting while responding to armed suspect: officials
Thomas, who was wounded in the leg during the incident, is currently hospitalized at Loyola Medical Center with non-life-threatening injuries. A bond hearing has not yet been scheduled.
Thomas has a lengthy criminal history, including multiple arrests for aggravated battery to a police officer, domestic battery, battery, and resisting arrest.
According to Cook County court documents, he was charged in May 2015, December 2015, March 2018 and October 2019.
As per standard department policy, the Illinois State Police Public Integrity Task Force has been called in to assist with the investigation.