Illinois Police Officer Shot and Killed, Manhunt Underway

Leah Barkoukis | September 01, 2015 1:35 PM

A police officer in Fox Lake, Illinois has reportedly been shot and killed, according to multiple media outlets.

The officer was pursuing three suspects for “suspicious activity.” When he radioed for backup just before 8 a.m., he was in a foot pursuit when communication was then lost. The responding officer can be heard on the scanner saying, “…send everybody you possibly can … officer is down …”

Lake County Sheriff’s Det. Chris Covelli said at a morning news conference that the officer was found with a gunshot wound, and later confirmed he had died.

As a result, a manhunt is underway for the three suspects—two white males and an African-American male—who may have taken the officer’s firearm and pepper spray, according to unconfirmed dispatch reports, CBS Chicago reports. K-9 units and helicopters have been deployed to help with the search.

Several schools in the area are on lockdown and people are being told to remain indoors.

This shooting comes just days after a law enforcement officer was executed at a Houston-area gas station while filling up his patrol car.

Townhall will provide updates as they come in.

Update:

Massive manhunt for suspects in killing of officer in Fox Lake, in photos. http://t.co/4wflRSwhId pic.twitter.com/qYfLfcrVZu
— Chicago Tribune (@chicagotribune) September 1, 2015