Shooting suspect killed in shootout with police in DeKalb County, Illinois

CHICAGO (CBS) – Police shot and killed a man suspected in a shooting in Rockford after he took a person hostage and fired on officers in DeKalb Township overnight, sheriff’s officials said.

According to the sheriff’s office, the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office was notified of a wanted vehicle in connection with a shooting in Rockford just after 11 p.m. on Tuesday. The vehicle was registered to an address in DeKalb.

Traffic cameras later spotted the vehicle near Peace Road and Mercantile Drive in Sycamore, and sheriff’s deputies then spotted the suspect’s vehicle driving by the car’s registered address.

When an officer attempted to stop the vehicle, the driver drove away and officers gave chase.

Officers used stop sticks to deflate the vehicle’s tires and the vehicle came to a stop near Rich Road and Nelson Road in DeKalb Township. Officers saw the suspect armed with a handgun and holding another person hostage in the car.

The DeKalb County Special Operations Team – which includes sheriff’s deputies and police officers from several DeKalb area departments – and hostage takers were called in, and after several hours the hostage was released unharmed, but the suspect remained in the vehicle.

After sustained attempts to persuade the suspect to surrender, sheriff’s officials said the suspect pointed his gun at police and fired several shots.

According to the sheriff’s office, police returned fire, killing the suspect. The suspect’s name has not been released.

The Illinois State Police and the DeKalb County District Attorney’s Office were notified of the shooting to begin an investigation.