Chicago Finance Committee rejects $1.25M settlement in deadly CPD shooting of Dexter Reed

CHICAGO (WLS) -- The Chicago City Council's Finance Committee rejected a $1.25 million settlement Friday in the civil rights lawsuit over the controversial fatal police shooting of Dexter Reed during a traffic stop last year.

The settlement failed 12-15.

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This is the second time the settlement came before the Finance Committee. In February, the proposal was pulled, and there was no vote.

But, this case is far from over.

Pushback on the settlement was expected.

Those against the deal said it was a matter of principle, not money.

Reed was killed on March 21, 2024.

Terms of the out-of-court settlement were reached in November.

According to the city's Civilian Office of Police Accountability, during the deadly traffic stop, the 26-year-old shot first, hitting a Chicago police officer.

Officers then fired 96 shots at Reed, hitting him 13 times.

SEE ALSO: Questions surround city's settlement with mom of Dexter Reed, man killed by CPD during traffic stop

The plainclothes tactical team traveling in an unmarked squad had originally stopped Reed in the city's West Humboldt Park neighborhood for an alleged seatbelt violation.

Reed's family said he suffered from mental illness, and filed the civil rights lawsuit alleging the traffic stop was racially motivated and unconstitutional, which is something the city denies.

"This is one of those cases I would rather not have to discuss. It's a traumatizing, and it was at the time that it happened," 37th Ward Ald. Emma Mitts said.

The shooting and the proposed settlement raised concerns among committee members about police racially profiling drivers.

"I couldn't imagine what was going on in the young man's head. He shouldn't have had a gun. He shouldn't have did what he did. But, if somebody would have walked up on my car over in that neighborhood. I don't know how I would have reacted," 27th Ward Ald. Walter Burnett said.

"When I hear someone vocalize that they don't know if they would do anything different than what this young man did, to try to take the lives of Chicago police officers, if they were in that same situation. What the hell is going on in this room?" 15th Ward Ald. Ray Lopez said.

The deputy corporation counsel told alders that going to trial could result in a $5 million settlement and another $3 to $5 million in legal fees, but alders still voted down the proposal.

"I think it's encouraging to know that, for whatever reason, the city did the right thing this time. Whether you're, you know, skeptical on the reasons behind it or not, it still end up at the right result, for now," Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 7 President John Catanzara said.

Andrew Stroth, the attorney for the family of Reed, said, "The family is obviously disappointed, but their quest for justice will continue."

The recommendation not to settle will go before the full City Council next Wednesday. Unless something changes, this case will be headed to trial: a process the law department told Council members could take two years.

The four officers involved were placed on desk duty.