Local News
33-year-old Patrick Prentice killed while shooting off fireworks in Whittemore
KOSSUTH COUNTY, IOWA — A 33-year-old man has died following a fireworks-related incident in Whittemore, according to the Kossuth County Sheriff’s Office.
Deputies responded to reports of a fireworks accident shortly after 9 p.m. on Tuesday.
Upon arrival, first responders found Patrick Prentice unconscious with severe injuries.
Authorities say Prentice was holding a launcher tube while igniting fireworks when the incident occurred.
He was transported to a hospital in Algona, where he was later pronounced dead.
Multiple emergency agencies responded to the scene, including Whittemore EMS, Kossuth County EMS, Air Med 3, the Kossuth County Medical Examiner’s Office, and the Kossuth County Sheriff’s Office.
An autopsy is being conducted by the State Medical Examiner’s Office in Ankeny.
The incident remains under investigation.
Local News
29-Year-Old Alex Rodriguez Found Dead on University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign, No Foul Play Suspected
URBANA, Ill. — A 29-year-old Champaign man found dead on the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign campus Monday morning has been identified as Alex C. Rodriguez, according to the Champaign County Coroner’s Office.
The University of Illinois Police Department (UIPD) responded to the area of Green and Wright streets at approximately 6:42 a.m. after receiving a report of an unresponsive person near the Alma Mater statue.
Officers arrived and found Rodriguez on a concrete bench. Emergency medical assistance was requested at the scene.
The Champaign County Coroner’s Office responded, and Rodriguez was pronounced dead at approximately 7:16 a.m., according to Coroner Laurie Brauer.
Authorities said Rodriguez was not affiliated with the University of Illinois.
UIPD provided an update Monday afternoon, saying preliminary observations at the scene revealed no signs of foul play.
Police also said there was no evidence of an ongoing threat to the university campus or surrounding community based on the information available when officers responded.
Because investigators did not identify an active threat, the university did not issue an Illini-Alert emergency notification.
The circumstances surrounding Rodriguez’s death have not been determined.
An autopsy has been scheduled, and the death remains under investigation by the University of Illinois Police Department.
Authorities have not released additional information about the circumstances leading to Rodriguez’s death.
The investigation remains ongoing, and additional details are expected as investigators receive further information from the autopsy and other evidence.
No foul play has been indicated based on the preliminary investigation.