Crime
Police Chase Ends in Gunfire and Multiple Officer Injuries in Savanna
SAVANNA, Ill. — A multi-agency police pursuit involving a stolen vehicle ended in a gunfire exchange early Thursday morning in Savanna, resulting in injuries to several law enforcement officers and the suspect.
According to a statement released by law enforcement, the incident began around 10:00 p.m. Wednesday, when Freeport Police responded to reports of a stolen vehicle.
Officers located the vehicle, but the driver fled the scene and struck a police squad car during the initial encounter. Officers briefly pursued the vehicle before losing sight of it and terminating the chase.
Later that night, a Jo Daviess County Sheriff’s Deputy spotted the stolen vehicle near Hanover, Illinois. Another short pursuit was initiated but was also called off.
At approximately 3:40 a.m. Thursday, the suspect was located again in the Savanna area. During this renewed pursuit, authorities say the suspect rammed another police squad car, escalating the situation.
The first “shots fired” call came in at 3:45 a.m., followed by a second at 3:48 a.m.
Moments later, the suspect crashed the vehicle at the intersection of Chicago and Park Streets, striking a Mount Carroll Police Department squad car.
At 3:49 a.m., officers made physical contact with the suspect, during which additional shots were exchanged.
Multiple officers from the Savanna Police Department, Mount Carroll Police Department, and the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office sustained non-life-threatening injuries and were transported to nearby hospitals for treatment.
The suspect was also injured during the incident and was airlifted to a regional hospital, where he is currently listed in stable condition.
The Illinois State Police has taken over the investigation, which remains ongoing.
By 6:00 a.m., local news crews observed a large police presence near South Gilbert Street and Chicago Avenue, where officers continued to secure and process the scene.
Further updates are expected as investigators work to determine the sequence of events and whether additional charges will be filed.
AUSTIN, Texas — A man was taken into custody Saturday afternoon following a shooting inside the Austin Central Library that left one person seriously injured and prompted a large emergency response and temporary shelter-in-place order in the downtown area.
According to the Austin Police Department (APD), officers responded shortly after 12:00 p.m. to reports of gunfire inside the Austin Central Library, located at 710 W. César Chávez Street.
Upon arrival, police and Austin-Travis County EMS units found one victim suffering from a gunshot wound.
The individual was transported to a local hospital in serious but stable condition.
Assistant Police Chief Lee Rogers stated during a press briefing that the shooter fled the scene before officers arrived.
After an extensive search, the suspect—identified as 55-year-old Harold Newton Keene—was located and arrested in South Austin at approximately 1:25 p.m.
The library was safely evacuated, and the shelter-in-place alert was lifted shortly after Keene’s apprehension.
Authorities emphasized that the shooting appeared to be an isolated incident involving only one suspect and one victim.
“This was not an active shooter situation,” Rogers confirmed.
Preliminary reports and public records reveal that Harold Newton Keene has a lengthy criminal history, including multiple arrests for assault, family violence, terroristic threats, burglary, drug possession, and evading arrest.
He is described by law enforcement officials as a habitual violent offender who has had numerous prior run-ins with police.
Records indicate Keene was previously arrested for threatening a man with a firearm several months ago and, in a separate incident, assaulted another inmate while in custody at the Travis County Jail.
In both cases, prosecutors later declined to pursue charges.
Authorities have not yet released a possible motive for the shooting or confirmed whether the suspect and victim knew each other.
The Austin Police Department’s Major Crimes Division is leading the investigation.
Anyone with information related to the incident is urged to contact the Austin Police Department or Crime Stoppers at 512-472-TIPS.