Oak Park shooting: Officer killed, suspect seen leaving bank with gun wounded, police say

Detective Allan Reddins first line-of-duty death for Oak Park Police Department since 1938

Liz Nagy Image
Saturday, November 30, 2024 5:59AM
Oak Park police officer killed; suspect wounded, police say
There was an Oak Park, IL shooting Friday. Detective Allan Reddins was shot and killed on Lake Street. A suspect was also wounded, police said.

OAK PARK, Ill. (WLS) -- Our coverage of this story has moved here.

An Oak Park detective was shot and killed Friday morning, after a person was seen leaving a bank with a gun, police said.

Detective Allan Reddins, 40, of Chicago responded about 9:30 a.m. to the 1000-block of Lake Street for a report of a person seen leaving a Chase bank in the area with a gun.

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Reddins and other officers asked the suspect to show his hands, and the suspect brandished a gun in the 800-block of Lake, police said.

Reddins was shot in the left side, and was taken to Loyola University Medical Center in critical condition, police said. He died about 10:10 a.m.

I'm hurting. This is the worst day of any chief of police.
Shatonya Johnson, Oak Park Police Department Chief

The male suspect was shot in the leg, police said. He is in custody, and being treated at Loyola. He remains stable, police said.

Police blocked off the area to investigate Friday.

Reddins' death marks the first line-of-duty death for the Oak Park Police Department since 1938, the department said. He was sworn in as an officer in May 2019 and was described as a "family man."

Reddins leaves behind a 19-year-old son, Oak Park police said during an emotional news conference Friday evening.

Oak Park police gave an update Friday, after one of their detectives was shot and killed.

"The Village of Oak Park extends its deepest condolences to Detective Reddins' family, friends and colleagues within the Oak Park Police Department and the wider law enforcement community as they process the grief caused by this senseless violence," police said in a news release.

The 86 men and women of the Oak Park Police Department are stunned. For the first time that many years, 86, one of their own has been killed on the job.

An Oak Park ambulance departed a west suburban hospital late Friday afternoon, carrying the body of Detective Reddins. The agonizing nine-mile ceremonial caravan to the medical examiner's office is a ritual unfamiliar to the officers of the Oak Park Police Department.

The body of a fallen Oak Park detective was brought to the medical examiner in a procession Friday.

"I'm hurting," Oak Park Police Department Chief Shatonya Johnson said. "This is the worst day of any chief of police."

A black band already wrapped around her star, Chief Johnson felt the weight of the line of duty loss that few Oak Park chiefs before her have known. She hired, and then promoted, Reddins over the last five years.

"I personally knew Allan, because I did his background investigation, and I quickly identified he had a talent that was needed here," Johnson said.

People out running errands noticed Reddins responding to the report at the Chase bank, approaching a man who appeared to be armed.

"He had gotten out of his car, was walking toward the library. Guy was standing by that post, nothing was happening at the time, so I thought he was trying to de-escalate what was going on," " witness Doris Kelley said. "He had the gun pointed at the ground... I'm like, 'I hope nothing happens,' and then I heard the shots going off."

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"There's a tape up then a guy lying down hurt," bystander Nichola Gradishar said. "I think he's the one that got shot in the leg, and they arrest him took his guns and everything."

Not long after his accused shooter was arrested and put in an ambulance, Reddins, a father, a beloved son, and dedicated detective, had died.

Oak Park police gave no details into the investigation as to what led up to the deadly encounter. Friday, they're focusing on mourning Detective Reddins.

The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to call Oak Park police at 708-386-3800.

Anonymous tips can be provided at 708-434-1636 or online at www.oak-park.us/crimetip.

Gov. JB Pritzker said in a statement, "Oak Park Police Detective Allan Reddins lost his life in the line of duty while protecting his community today. Our hearts are with his family, loved ones, and the entire Oak Park Police Department as we grieve the loss of a dedicated officer. May his memory be a blessing."

In a statement, Chicago police said, "The Chicago Police Department extends our heartfelt condolences to the family, friends, and coworkers of Oak Park Police Department Detective Allan Reddins who was shot and killed in the line of duty today. We will continue to assist and support our neighboring department through this difficult time."

The Chicago Fire Department said, "The Chicago Fire Department shares our deepest condolences with the Village of Oak Park on the LODD of Police Detective Allan Reddins. We stand in solidarity with our brothers and sisters of the Oak Park Police Department.
May he rest in peace."

Mayor Brandon Johnson said in a statement, "The City of Chicago would like to offer our deepest condolences to the family, friends, and colleagues at the Oak Park Police Department for the tragic loss of Police Detective Allan Reddins who was killed in the line of duty today."

"The Illinois State Police mourns with and supports the Oak Park Police Department, and family and friends of Oak Park Police Detective Allan Reddins, who was shot and killed in the line of duty today. ISP offers its deepest condolences as a senseless act of violence claimed the life of a brave officer," Illinois State Police said in a statement.

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