Crime
21-Year-Old man killed in officer-involved shooting in Rock Island
The man, identified as being unarmed, was shot multiple times, including in the head and torso.
Rock Island County Coroner Brian Gustafson has confirmed the death of a 21-year-old man following an officer-involved shooting on Saturday afternoon.
On Monday, the Rock Island County Coroner identified the victim as 21-year-old Jakarta Jackson. Preliminary autopsy results indicate that Jackson died from multiple gunshot wounds.
According to the Rock Island Police Department, the incident unfolded at approximately 3:20 p.m. in the area of 12th Street and 24th Avenue:
- An officer attempted to detain a “suspicious individual.”
- The man reportedly fled on foot when approached.
- Police say the man then entered the driver’s seat of a running car in an attempt to escape.
- As the officer tried to remove him from the vehicle, the man allegedly drove the car forward, which police claim dragged the officer.
- The officer fired at the man, striking him multiple times.
Both the man and the officer were transported to a local hospital:
- The man succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced deceased.
- The officer was treated for injuries and later released.
Rock Island Police Chief Tim McCloud immediately requested the Rock Island County Integrity Task Force to investigate the use of deadly force. This task force comprises local and state law enforcement agencies to ensure impartial investigations of officer-involved incidents.
The officer involved in the shooting has been placed on administrative leave, pending the investigation. An autopsy is scheduled for Monday, according to Coroner Gustafson.
Several witnesses at the scene have expressed skepticism about the police account of the events.
Unverified claims allege:
- The officer was not visibly injured or dragged.
- The man, identified as being unarmed, was shot multiple times, including in the head and torso.
- Children, reportedly the man’s son and nephew, were in the vehicle at the time of the shooting.
Witnesses also dispute the timeline provided by authorities, asserting that the man died at the scene and was not transported to the hospital alive.
The incident has sparked significant outrage within the community, with calls for transparency and accountability. Witnesses and community members have accused law enforcement of attempting to cover up the circumstances surrounding the shooting.
The Rock Island County Integrity Task Force has taken over the investigation. They are expected to examine all evidence, including body camera footage and witness statements, to determine the facts of the case.
Anyone with information or video footage is urged to contact the task force directly. Updates will be provided as the investigation progresses.
Crime
Victims killed in Beaver County shooting identified
Authorities have not disclosed further information about the couple or the nature of the incident.
Authorities are investigating a tragic shooting incident in North Sewickley Township, Beaver County, that left two people dead and two others injured on Sunday night.
The shooting occurred on Shaffer Road, prompting a swift response from local law enforcement. Emergency medical teams arrived on the scene, and the two injured individuals were airlifted to a nearby hospital via medical helicopter for treatment. Their conditions remain undisclosed.
North Sewickley Police confirmed on Monday morning that the incident was contained, and there is no ongoing threat to the public.
However, they have not released additional details about the circumstances surrounding the shooting or potential suspects.
The two victims who lost their lives have been identified as Michelle Tomecsko Hunt and her husband, Bill Hunt.
Authorities have not disclosed further information about the couple or the nature of the incident.
The incident has left the small, close-knit community in shock. Jennifer Lanham, who works nearby, shared her disbelief.
“Everybody here knows everybody. We’re a very tight-knit community. Everybody looks out for one another. This is a tragedy beyond compare for our town,” Lanham said.
Lanham recounted how one of her employees informed her that police had requested nearby businesses to close as a precaution.
“It’s really hard to wrap your head around something like this. A multiple homicide in a small town—it’s staggering. You just don’t hear about things like this happening here,” she added.
Law enforcement has not yet provided details on the motive or any suspects involved in the shooting. The investigation remains active, and officials are urging anyone with information to come forward to assist in the case.
Further updates will be provided as authorities release more information about this tragic event.