Litchfield police officers, Montgomery County sheriff’s deputies and Illinois State Police troopers fatally shot a suspect who pointed a gun at authorities after trying to carjack a vehicle.
By David C.L. Bauer Source Jacksonville Journal-Courier, Ill. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
LITCHFIELD, IL—Authorities have released two videos of a Nov. 24 confrontation during a suspicious person call that resulted in an officer-involved shooting when the man drew a firearm on police.
Officers from the Litchfield Police Department, Montgomery County Sheriff’s Department and Illinois State Police responded to McDonald’s at 2 Ohren Drive about 10 a.m.
In the two videos publicly released Thursday from officers’ body cameras, a man can be seen fleeing from police and at one point displays a weapon in an attempt to carjack a vehicle. He continues walking and running away from police after the attempt is unsuccessful, ignoring commands to put down the gun and raise his hands.
After reaching the parking lot of Taylorville Community Credit Union about a half a mile away at 801 W. Union Ave., the videos show the man again ignoring commands to put down his weapon. An officer deployed a Taser, at which point the man pointed the gun at officers and police discharged their firearms.
Police said the man, identified as Shane M. Boston, 41, was struck. He was taken to a hospital and died later that day, according to Illinois State Police.
The videos were released by the Illinois State Police Division of Internal Investigation in consultation with the Montgomery County State’s Attorney’s Office. Authorities noted that the first 30 seconds of the videos do not contain audio until the camera is manually activated by the officer.
State police are continuing the investigation.