Chicago man charged with shooting murder of Oak Park Police Officer Allan Reddins

Yesterday, the Oak Park Police Department charged a 37-year-old Chicago man who has an extensive criminal background with the shooting death of an Oak Park Police officer.  That fatal shooting went down on Friday, November 29, on the 800 block of Lake Street in Oak Park, Illinois.

Jerell Thomas of the 4100 block of W. Cermak Road in Chicago was charged by the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office with first-degree murder in connection with the line-of-duty death of Oak Park Detective Allan 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.

According to investigators, Reddins was shot after responding to a call of a person observed with a gun leaving the Chase Bank in the 1000 block of Lake Street. He was taken to Loyola Medical Center where he succumbed to his injuries.

The investigation reveals that as Detective Reddins and other officers approached Thomas, who failed to comply with officers’ directives and began shooting. Reddins was struck by the shooting on the left side of his body. That Officer’s death is the first in the line of duty of an Oak Park Police Officer since 1938. Reddins had been a member of the department since 2019.

Thomas was injured in the leg in the incident and is receiving treatment at Loyola, where he remains hospitalized with non-life-threatening wounds. No bond hearing has been set while Thomas is being treated at the hospital.

Thomas is considered a habitual criminal by investigators with a previous history of multiple arrests for aggravated battery to a police officer, domestic battery, battery and resisting a police officer.

Per standard Oak Park Police Department policy, the Illinois State Police Public Integrity Task Force was called in to assist with the investigation of the shooting. The State Task Force’s role is considered routine when an officer is involved in a shooting, according to Police.

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(Source: Oak Park Police Department)

Posted by Richard Webster, Ace News Today
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