UPDATE, Thursday at 3 p.m. — Suspect in custody
Western Illinois University issued an alert at 3 p.m. that the suspect in the shooting of two Macomb police officers is now in custody.
Classes and activities will resume as normal on Friday, Sept. 6.
The Macomb Police Department will hold a briefing at 4 p.m.
UPDATE, Thursday at 10 a.m. — Macomb Police Briefing
Both officers who were shot Wednesday night have been released from the hospital and are headed home to continue their recovery. The standoff at the house on North Normal Street continues.
UPDATE — WIU CLOSED
Both campuses of Western Illinois University will be closed Thursday, Sept. 5 due to the ongoing police emergency near the Macomb campus.
The threat is contained and the perimeter will be blocked off, but caution is needed and everyone should avoid the 300 block of North Normal Street and the surrounding area.
University residence halls will remain open, and the dining centers will move to brunch schedules and open from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
All morning athletics practices and team activities are postponed, as well as any other WIU campus events.
When the University is closed, employees will be dismissed from and paid for their regular working shift. Employees working in essential positions may be required to work their regular hours during a total shutdown. The determination of essential versus nonessential employees will be made by the supervisor based on the nature of the advisory situation.
The WIU policy on limiting University operations due to emergency conditions is available in the Administrative Procedures Handbook at wiu.edu/policies/emergency.php.
Updates on the situation can be found on the Macomb Police Department Facebook.
UPDATE, 11 p.m. — Macomb Police Briefing
Macomb officials say two police officers who were shot Wednesday while attempting to serve a search warrant are in "good spirits," while the suspect is believed to still be inside the residence where the shooting occurred.
At an 11 p.m. briefing at city hall, Police Chief Jeff Hamer said officers went to the 300 block of North Normal Street to execute a search warrant at around 6:44 p.m.
"After knocking and announcing their presence several times, they forced entry into the residence and were immediately fired upon by somebody in the residence," Hamer said.
The two officers wounded were taken to a local hospital and then taken to a secondary facility, where they are with their families and recovering. Hamer said officers were in critical condition but are now more stable.
Hamer said the scene was still active as of 11 p.m. with a large police presence, with the shooter believed to still be inside the residence.
"But I want to urge the public and the community to know that the situation is isolated to the 300 block of North Normal," he said.
State, federal, and local police are on scene and have secured a perimeter around the residence, he said.
Both Chief Hamer and Mayor Mike Inman spoke with the wounded officers prior to the briefing.
"I would reiterate what the chief said, that they are in good spirits and doing relatively well considering what they've encountered today," Inman said.
Inman also reiterated that the situation is isolated to the 300 block of North Normal Street and there is no ongoing threat to the public.
*****
Two Macomb police officers were shot Wednesday while serving a warrant in the 300 block of North Normal Street, near the campus of Western Illinois University.
WIU issued an emergency alert at 7:37 p.m. advising of an active shooter and warning people to avoid the area.
The Macomb Police Department said in a Facebook post around 8 p.m. the officers were being treated at a hospital and were in critical but stable condition.
At 10 p.m., Chief Jeff Hamer said in a live interview with WGEM on the police department's Facebook page that the two officers are expected to recover. He also said it's believed the suspect in the shooting is still inside the residence where officers attempted to serve the warrant.
Hamer said the house is "tightly surrounded."
WIU issued an additional alert at 9:30 p.m. asking people to shelter in place and stay clear of the area.
There is no active threat to the community at this time, police said. People should still avoid the area.
Updates will be provided.
Copyright 2024 Tri States Public Radio