Man accused in fatal shooting of Oak Park Detective Allan Reddins ordered to remain in custody

OAK PARK, Ill. (WLS) -- The man accused in the shooting death of a Oak Park officer appeared in court Thursday.

A large contingent of officers along with a member of the detective's family were in court as a judge ordered the accused cop killer, 37-year-old Jerrell Thomas of Chicago, to remain in custody.

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Detective Allan Reddins, 40, was shot and killed last Friday, when confronting a man who had allegedly left a bank nearby with a gun.

Thomas has been charged with first degree murder, felony possession of a stolen firearm and unlawful use of a weapon by a felon for the shooting death of the veteran lawman. The offender also faces attempted murder of a peace officer for shooting and wounding another responding officer.

Thomas was allegedly seen leaving the bank with a gun before he was approached by Reddins and other officers. When officers asked the suspect to show his hands, he allegedly brandished a gun. Investigators say that's when Thomas opened fired on Reddins, leaving him with critical injuries. Reddins died at the hospital hours later.

Authorities recovered the gun they say Thomas used in the attack. Investigators say he took it from his sister who legally owned the 40 caliber weapon days before the attack after a altercation with his father. Thomas' relative did report the gun stolen.

Police said the attack was captured by both security cameras in the area, the officers' body worn cameras, and a neighborhood resident who took pictures of the violence.

Authorities say Thomas is a habitual criminal with a previous history of multiple arrests for aggravated battery to a police officer, domestic battery, and battery and resisting arrest police officer.

Thomas did not appear as previously scheduled in court Monday because he is still in the hospital. He was shot in the leg in the incident Friday. His court date was rescheduled to Thursday, and he appeared in a wheelchair.

The suspect's next court appearance has been set for December 20.

Reddins, a five-year veteran, was the first Oak Park officer to lose his life in the line-of-duty in 86 years.

A family member of Reddins left court Thursday afternoon without saying a word, just moments after the Chicago man accused in his slaying remains behind bars.

The fallen officer's son released the following statement:

"My dad is my hero and now my guardian angel. I am now more determined than ever to continue to make both of my parents proud."

The candlelight vigil will happen on Friday Dec. 6 at 5:30 p.m. at Village Hall, 123 Madison St.

Police Chief Shatonya Johnson and Village President Vicki Scaman are expected to speak.

A wake begins at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, Dec. 12. followed by a funeral service at 11 a.m. at Apostolic Church of God, located at 6320 S. Dorchester Ave. in Chicago.

Jerell Thomas, 37, has been charged with first-degree murder, attempted murder of a peace officer, possession of a stolen firearm and unlawful use of a weapon by a felon in connection with the shooting.

For those interested in donating to support a fund for the Reddins family, Oak Park Lodge #8, Fraternal Order of Police, is currently collecting donations via Zelle to the following email address: oakparklodge8@gmail.com.

A QR code to contribute via Zelle is also available at www.oak-park.us/reddins.

Money raised will go directly to a financial account that has been set up by the Fraternal Order of Police in support of the Reddins the family, in particular for his son who attends college out of state and his mother who is receiving medical treatment, Oak Park officials said.

For more information, contact Lodge 8 Secretary Joseph Nash at oakparklodge8@gmail.com.

The Reddins family said in a statement Wednesday, "The Family of Detective Allan Reddins mourns the loss of their father, son, brother and friend. Allan was a proud father of his son, an honor student at Morehouse College, who states, 'my dad is my hero and now my guardian angel. I am now more determined than ever to continue to make both of my parents proud.'