Police seek tips in Rock Falls fatal shooting

ROCK FALLS – Police are looking for a suspect or suspects in the homicide of a 55-year-old Rock Falls man, shot to death this morning in his rental home.

The woman living with him, also shot, is in serious but stable condition at an undisclosed hospital.

Chief Dave Pilgrim confirmed this afternoon that the shooting is a homicide; the names of the victims have not yet been released and he did not know their ages or relationship.

Although no one yet has been arrested, “I have no reason to believe there’s a threat to the general public,” Pilgrim said.

Investigators are eager for tips. A Crime Stoppers reward of up to $5,000 is being offered for information leading to an arrest and conviction.

Police have been chasing down leads all day, but details still are sketchy, Pilgrim said. The woman provided some vague information, but because of her condition, investigators aren’t sure how reliable it is, he said.

The shooting happened around 5 a.m. at 214 E. Sixth St. The two were the only people in the house at the time, Pilgrim said.

An autopsy of the man was conducted today in Rockford; the results were not released.

Sterling police, Whiteside and Lee sheriff’s departments, state police Crime Scene Services and the coroner also responded.

Anyone with information is asked to call Rock Falls Police at 815-622-1140 or Whiteside County Crime Stoppers at 815-625-7867.

This is the third homicide in Whiteside County in 13 months.

Jason A. Chapman, 43, was shot to death in the back yard of his Como home late July 4 or early July 5, 2020. His killer still is at large; a $5,000 Crime Stoppers reward and a $10,000 reward from his family are being offered for information in that case.

Michael W.T. Bennett, 35, of Sterling, is in Whiteside County jail on $2 million bond, charged with two counts of first-degree murder in the death of Joshua N. Hamrick, 39, shot and killed May 1 in his back yard at 901 W. 19th St. in Sterling.

Bennett pleaded not guilty July 21 and has a pretrial hearing Aug. 25.