Man shot after altercation at City Park in Streator, police seize suspect vehicle

A 32-year-old man was shot in the back Saturday afternoon at City Park in Streator after an altercation, police said.

The man was taken to OSF Center for Health-Streator, then taken to OSF Saint Francis Medical Center in Peoria by helicopter. The gunshot victim is expected to recover from his injuries, Streator police said Sunday.

Streator Deputy Chief Robert Wood confirmed that the Streator Police Department responded to a call at 4:46 p.m., finding the victim at City Park. Officers are working to identify the suspect directly involved with this shooting and will provide updates as they become available, Wood said in a Saturday news release.

“The investigation is still ongoing as to positively identify the shooter,” Wood said.

Officers were able to identify the suspect vehicle, a blue Chevy Monte Carlo, that had fled the scene after the shooting, Wood said. This vehicle was found about two hours later abandoned in South Streator. The suspect vehicle was taken to the Streator Police Department for processing.

The Livingston County Sheriff’s Office said about 8:30 p.m. Saturday that it assisted the Streator Police Department and the La Salle County Sheriff’s Office near the intersection of East West Road and Harrison Street related to the shooting.

According to eyewitness accounts, this shooting was an isolated and targeted incident.

The Streator Police Department has been assisted in this investigation by the La Salle County Sheriff’s Office, Livingston County Sheriff’s Office and Illinois State Police Crime Scene Unit.

Anyone with information regarding the shooting is asked to call the Streator Police Department at 815-844-0911 or 815-672-3111 and speak with the Investigations Department.

Shaw Local News Network reporter Tom Collins contributed to this report.