October 23, 2024
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Man dead in police shooting after hostage standoff in DeKalb: sheriff

Man wanted in connection to Rockford shooting, led police on chase in DeKalb, killed in police shooting Wednesday, authorities say

By Kelsey Rettke
DeKalb County sheriff's deputies and law enforcement authorities remain on the scene of a fatal police shooting on Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2024 on Rich Road just west of Nelson Road in DeKalb Township. A man was shot and killed by police after an hours-long standoff involving a hostage. The man allegedly fired multiple rounds at officers, who returned fire, authorities said.

DeKalb County sheriff's deputies and law enforcement authorities remain on the scene of a fatal police shooting on Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2024 on Rich Road just west of Nelson Road in DeKalb Township. A man was shot and killed by police after an hours-long standoff involving a hostage. The man allegedly fired multiple rounds at officers, who returned fire, authorities said. (Mark Busch)

DeKALB – A man was shot and killed by police Wednesday in DeKalb after authorities alleged he took a person hostage inside a vehicle in Rockford and drove to DeKalb where an hourslong standoff unfurled, ending in a shootout with police, DeKalb County Sheriff Andy Sullivan said.

The man held a woman hostage inside a vehicle in rural DeKalb Township for hours Wednesday morning, refusing to come out of the vehicle and eventually firing multiple times from a handgun at police, Sullivan said. No officers were injured but a county sheriff squad car and an armored vehicle were struck by gunfire, Sullivan said.

The hostage was released uninjured in the early morning hours Wednesday, prior to the man being shot by police, and is safe. No deputies or police were injured. The man was wanted in connection to a separate shooting in Rockford, police said.

“There has been an officer-involved shooting,” Sullivan said about 6 a.m. Wednesday. “We are turning that part of the investigation over to the Illinois State Police to conduct an independent investigation.”

Authorities have not identified anyone involved in the shooting or the deceased as of 10 a.m. Sullivan said investigators are still piecing together a motive.

In an update released about 6:40 a.m. Wednesday, Sullivan said the man was killed after he allegedly shot from a handgun several rounds at police during a lengthy standoff. The situation involved hostage negotiators from the DeKalb County Special Operations Team.

“The sole occupant of the vehicle remained armed with a handgun and negotiations continued with an attempt for him to surrender,” according to the release. “The suspect then suddenly pointed the gun at police and fired several rounds towards them, at which time police returned fire fatally wounding the suspect.”

DeKalb County sheriff's deputies and Illinois State Police are on the scene of a police shooting along Rich Road between Nelson and Lucas roads in DeKalb Township on Wednesday morning, Oct. 23, 2024. Police shot and killed a man after authorities allege he fired a gun at officers in the early morning hours Wednesday. The man also allegedly led police from Rockford to DeKalb on a high speed chase with a hostage in his vehicle, leading to an hours-long standoff, according to the sheriff's office.

DeKalb County sheriff's deputies and Illinois State Police are on the scene of a police shooting along Rich Road between Nelson and Lucas roads in DeKalb Township on Wednesday morning, Oct. 23, 2024. Police shot and killed a man after authorities allege he fired a gun at officers in the early morning hours Wednesday. The man also allegedly led police from Rockford to DeKalb on a high speed chase with a hostage in his vehicle, leading to an hours-long standoff, according to the sheriff's office. (Kelsey Rettke)

The situation remains ongoing Wednesday as authorities worked to temporarily close a portion of Rich Road in unincorporated DeKalb, the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office announced. Authorities didn’t say how long the roadway would be closed Wednesday.

A heavy police presence remained in the area just north of the city of DeKalb as of 9:30 a.m., almost 10 hours after the events began.

The chaos unfolded in DeKalb late Tuesday with a police chase that started in Rockford, Sullivan said. Area law enforcement agencies were notified about 11:03 p.m. by Rockford authorities that a vehicle with a man wanted in connection to a Rockford shooting was headed south by car into DeKalb County.

The man’s vehicle was registered to an address on the south side of DeKalb city, according to a news release from the sheriff’s office.

Local agencies pursued and eventually located the vehicle about 11:45 p.m. via traffic cameras at Peace Road and Mercantile Drive. Deputies saw the vehicle as it pulled in front of the residence the car was registered to in DeKalb, according to the release.

Deputies attempted a traffic stop to pull the vehicle over, Sullivan said. They were unsuccessful and the driver headed through the city down Annie Glidden Road with the hostage still in the vehicle.

Deputies used stop sticks – tools used by police on the roadway to deflate vehicle tires – and the vehicle’s tires deflated, coming to a stop about 12:30 a.m. on Rich Road west of Nelson Road, surrounded by farm fields. Deputies said the man was armed with a handgun, according to the release.

DeKalb County sheriff's deputies and Illinois State Police close off a portion of Rich Road in response to a police shooting along Rich Road between Nelson and Lucas roads in DeKalb Township on Wednesday morning, Oct. 23, 2024. Police shot and killed a man after authorities allege he fired a gun at officers in the early morning hours Wednesday. The man also allegedly led police from Rockford to DeKalb on a high speed chase with a hostage in his vehicle, leading to an hours-long standoff, according to the sheriff's office.

DeKalb County sheriff's deputies and Illinois State Police close off a portion of Rich Road in response to a police shooting along Rich Road between Nelson and Lucas roads in DeKalb Township on Wednesday morning, Oct. 23, 2024. Police shot and killed a man after authorities allege he fired a gun at officers in the early morning hours Wednesday. The man also allegedly led police from Rockford to DeKalb on a high speed chase with a hostage in his vehicle, leading to an hours-long standoff, according to the sheriff's office. (Kelsey Rettke)

Negotiators and the county’s SWAT team were called in immediately, arrived about 1:15 a.m. and began attempting to contact the man holed up inside the vehicle, Sullivan said.

The man did not release the hostage until about 4:30 a.m., Sullivan said. The shooting happened shortly after.

“Negotiations lasted for several hours with the hostage ultimately being released unharmed,” according to the release. “The sole occupant of the vehicle remained armed with a handgun and negotiations continued with an attempt for him to surrender.”

Sullivan said his office has contacted the Illinois State Police and the DeKalb County State Attorney’s Office to conduct an outside independent investigation into the police shooting.

This is a developing story. This story was updated at 10:40 a.m. Check back for more updates.

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