3 sheriff's deputies, suspect shot during standoff at Dixon home, Ogle County officials say
DIXON, Ill. (WLS) -- Three sheriff's deputies were shot Wednesday while responding to a home in a gated community in Ogle County, and a suspect was also shot and wounded.
Ogle County Sheriff Brian VanVickle says the deputies were shot while responding to a call from a mother saying her son was in a home on Wild Rice Lane in Dixon, threatening to kill himself and others. He said the suspect also was shot.
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The Ogle County Sheriff called the situation a "critical incident," local ABC affiliate WTVO reported.
"Our hostage negotiators arrived on scene and attempted to make contact, and the first call to his cell phone began at 10:40," VanVickle said. "In excess of 50 phone calls were made in various forms to the residence with no answer."
A SWAT team was called out and they made repeated attempts to contact the individuals. Around Noon, officers entered the home and that is when there was an exchange of gunfire.
"Immediately upon entering the house, our deputies received fire from inside the house," VanVickle said. "Three deputies were struck by gunfire and transported to local hospitals. The suspect was also struck by gunfire and transported to a local hospital."
Officials said all four individuals are alive and in good condition.
A spokesperson at Katherine Shaw Bethea Hospital in Dixon said three people were taken to the hospital's emergency department from the shooting scene. Police said they were the three deputies shot and two were treated and released.
The third deputy was flown to St. Anthony's Hospital in Rockford and underwent surgery.
The suspect was also taken to a local hospital where he underwent surgery.
Neighbors were stunned by the sight of officers swarming the streets of their normally quiet gated community near Lost Lake.
"It's odd because the area is safe," resident Gordon Gabelman said. "We've never had anything like this happen before. We've been here quite a few years."
Chopper 7 was over the scene on Wild Rice Lane in Dixon Wednesday afternoon, where law enforcement and personal cars could be seen parked on the side of unpaved roads throughout the neighborhood and officials occasionally gathering in small groups but little ongoing activity.
"I heard all the shooting and shouting and my mind said, 'Oh my gosh, there's been an explosion at the house around the corner,'" resident Cheri Kemp said.
Yellow police tape blocked at least one driveway and an Ogle County sheriff's mobile command center was parked at the end of the drive. Lost Lake's property owner's association describes the area as a "country style community" with about 700 owners near the cities of Dixon, Franklin Grove and Oregon.
Police did not say if anyone else was inside of the home at the time of the shooting.
Illinois State Police said their help has been requested to investigate the officer-involved shooting aspect of the incident.
"Preliminary information indicates the Ogle County Sheriff's Department requested assistance from ISP to assist with an officer-involved shooting investigation in Dixon earlier today," a statement from state police read. "There is no threat to the public at this time. This investigation is active and ongoing, and no additional information will be released at this time."
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
