What happened: Chicago police released footage of a traffic stop that led to the shooting death of a young black man, Dexter Reed. The 26-year-old was allegedly pulled over on suspicion of not wearing a seatbelt, but his encounter with five plainclothes officers devolved into a fatal shootout, prompting outrage.
Reed shot first: Footage shows officers surrounding Reed’s car and telling him to keep his window down and open the driver’s door. As he refuses to comply, officers draw their guns and continue making commands. Multiple video angles show Reed shooting first before the police returned fire.
Why it matters: The false narrative surrounding the case is fueling anti-police sentiment in Chicago, which often leads to detrimental policy change. This comes as law enforcement grapples with the city’s extremely high rates of violent crime, a problem that disproportionately harms black residents.
The violent reality: Black Chicagoans comprise most gun violence victims and as many as 77 percent of homicide victims.