Officer remembered as ‘family man’ fatally shot on duty on Black Friday

OAK PARK, Ill. (WLS) — Illinois State Police are mourning after a 40-year-old officer described as a “family man” was fatally shot while responding to a report of a man leaving a bank with a gun.

An ambulance carrying the body of Oak Park Police Detective Allen Reddins, 40, left the hospital Friday afternoon. The ceremonial nine-mile caravan to the medical examiner’s office is a ritual unknown to department officials.

Reddins, a five-year veteran of the department, was the first Oak Park officer to die in the line of duty since 1938. He was remembered as a “family man” who left behind a 19-year-old son.

Oak Park Police Detective Allen Reddins, 40, was fatally shot in the line of duty. he is... — Oak Park Police Detective Allen Reddins, 40, was fatally shot in the line of duty. He is remembered as a “family man” who left behind a 19-year-old son.(Source: Village of Oak Park, WLS, CNN)

“I’m hurting. “This is the worst day of any police chief’s life,” said Chief Shatonya Johnson. “I knew Allen personally because I had investigated him and quickly discovered that he had the talent that was needed here.”

Investigators say Reddins was on patrol duty in the busy Oak Park business district Friday morning when a call was received around 9:30 a.m. about a man leaving Chase Bank with a gun.

People running errands noticed Reddins’ reaction as he approached the man, who appeared to be armed.

“He got out of the car and walked towards the library. The guy was standing by this post. Nothing happened during this time. So I thought he was trying to smooth over what was going on,” Doris Kelley said. “He had a gun pointed at the ground. I say to myself, “I hope nothing happens.” Then I heard shots.”

Police say Reddins and other officers asked the man, later identified as 37-year-old Jerell Thomas, to show his hands, and that’s when Thomas brandished a gun. Thomas then allegedly began shooting, striking Reddins in the left side of his body.

Thomas, who was shot in the leg during the incident, was arrested.

– There’s a tape. Then there’s a wounded guy lying there. I think he was shot in the leg, so they arrested him and took his people and everything,” said witness Nicholas Gradishar.

Police say Thomas is charged with first-degree murder, attempted murder of a peace officer, possession of a stolen firearm and unlawful use of a firearm by a felon in connection with the shooting. No bond hearing was scheduled during his treatment at the hospital.