Julia
‘State's Attorney.
Courthouse
101 East Main Street
Urbana, Ilinois 61801
Phone (217) 384-3733,
Rietz Fax (217) 384-3816
Office of
State's Attorney
Champaign County, Til
‘STATE'S ATTORNEY REVIEW OF ILLINOIS STATE POLICE OFFICER
INVOLVED SHOOTING, ST. JOSEPH IL, 7/4/23,
‘Summary of Events and investigation
(07/3/23 about 6:45pm, the Danville I Police Department was advised of two
‘shootings that had occurred in Clinton, 1A earlier that same day. lows law enforcement
advised the suspect, Randy Jackson, was believed to be ina vehicle that was located by
‘GPS in Vermilion County. The allegations of the lowa offenses included Jackson being
involved in the shootings of two persons, atleast one of which was not expected to
survive. lowa law enforcement further advised that one watrant for Jackson was already
‘outstanding and another, for attempt murder, was pending
Danville PD located the vehicle and successfully stopped it. It was being driven by a
female but Jackson was detected hiding on the rear seat floorboards covered with
various items. When Jackson realized he was discovered, he caused the female to exit
the vehicle, took over driving, and fied from police in a pursuit that would span several
counties,
8y 7:21 pm, the Vermilion County Sherif's Office detected and attempted to stop the
vehicle. Jackson initiated further fight from pursuing marked law enforcement vehicles
with active lights and sirens. Jackson drove his vehicle at high speeds, sometimes in
‘excess of 110mph, including through residential areas, putting uninvolved civilians at
isk,
For safety reasons, aw enforcement broke off active pursuit, Shortly thereafter,
Jackson's vehicle was found abandoned ina cornfield outside St. Joseph IL in
‘Champaign County.
[A search ofthe area was conducted and Jackson was located by an assisting ONR officer
about 11:37pm hiding in the loft area of a garage at approximately 2200 CR 1300N, The
locating officer did not observe weapons in Jackson's direct possession, but Jackson
advised the officer "You better shoot me of 'm going to fucking kill yu, I'm going to
fucking kill ou, you better shoot me, motherfucker.” The officer sought cover and
called for assistance.Law enforcement including linois State Police SWAT responded, secured the area and,
‘concerned Jackson was armed, deployed remote surveillance and communication
‘equipment into the garage. A Crisis Negotiation Team Officer with training in de.
escalation made audio contact with Jackson,
(Over the next 5-6 hours Jackson presented defiantly to the CNT, declining to surrender
peacefully, and indicating officers would have to go in and get him. He repeatedly stated
he hada gun. He made various demands and indicated that he would kil officers if they
lentered, that he would shoot them, and that he had ‘thirty rounds’ (ammunition
cartridges). Troopers also heard mechanical noses that, in ther training and experience,
were consistent with the manipulation ofa firearm. Jackson, apparently hearing the
officers discussing their belief he was manipulating a firearm, called to them words to
the effect of "Yeah, you know what thats”
Jackson further stated that he would shoot a police K9 fit was sent in, and that
‘troopers would need to kil him, or he would kill one of them. He made statements
about bling children. He indicated his intent to take atleast one officer with him. He
Indicated an intent to ‘take’ as many ofthe officers as he could before they could get,
hhim. He requested officers enter the garage one at atime so he could kill them all, At
‘one point Jackson started a fire in the garage which was largely extinguished shortly
thereater
Jackson was repeatedly instructed on how to exit the garage safely and given numerous
‘opportunities to do so. He declined all of them,
‘At 3:553m on 7/4/23, 1SP deployed an aerial camera drone into the garage area and
discovered Jackson appeared to have retreated tothe garage loft where he could
maintain a tactical advantage. lackson then thew items at the drone until it was
Asabled. Jackson proceeded to manipulate his environment in a way that would create
‘obstacles or tripping hazards for officers should they enter.
[About &-4Sam, after more than 5 hours of attempts to get Jackson to surrender
peaceably, officers concluded further negotlations without a change in circumstances
would be futile. Officers deployed several doses ofa chemical iritant into the garage
‘through a vent in an attempt to make Jackson uncomfortable enough to surrender. This
was unsuccessful and it appears Jackson barricaded the vent being used to introduce
the gas.
Additional iritants were introduced from other angles in several subsequent attempts
to encourage Jackson to surrender. These efforts were equally unsuccessful
A second drone was deployed and located Jackson now hiding inside a vehicle in the
sarage.Jackson left the vehicle and disabled ths drone as well‘About 5:29 aim, as officers were evaluating their next option, Jackson emerged in 2
rapid or aggressive manner from the garage angling his body to concea a hand behind 9
leg. Multiple officers repeatedly directed Jackson to show his hands and he refused to
comply ashe adjusted his position around a vehicle. Trooper Shanks observed what
appeared to be a gun in Jackson's hand and yelled that Jackson had a gun, Trooper
Shanks repeatedly ordered Jackson to drop the gun. Jackson declined te drop anything.
[At this point Trooper Hedges, who had been present for Jackson's ealier statements
about being armed and willing to kill officers, had heard the earlier noises consistent
\with the manipulation ofa firearm, and had heard the alert that Jackson was holding 9
{Bun, now observed Jackson to be holding nickel colored item in one hand and moving
the tem ina furtive manner while angling his body to conceal the item from officers.
Trooper Hedges identiied the item as being consistent with a snub-nose, nickel plated
revolver.
‘Trooper Hedges reported Jackson to be moving in an erratic fashion and with a bizarre
expression. Trooper Hedges reported Jackson then moved as Ifo present the item in his
hand ina threatening manner, causing Hedges to believe Jackson was about to fire on
him or other officers. Trooper Hedges discharged his own weapon to nullify the
perceived threat presented by Jackson
Jackson was struck and fel, dropping the nickel-colored object in his hand. The object
was later determined to be a car emergency-exit tool, sometimes callec a window:
punch or glass-breaker. Jackson had apparently removed the item fromthe vehicle in
the garage. The window-punch presented with a nickel finish, a hander very similar to
the grip of a handgun, and a horizontal protuberance consistent with the appearance of
2 short-barreled handgun,
Law enforcement promptly removed Jackson from the immediate acea, where residual
chemical irritants made instant first aid untenable, to where an ambulance and medical
treatment were available on scene. Emergency medical personel remeved him from
thescene for further medical care. Jackson did not survive his injuries.
The described events were investigated by an independent Division of internal
Investigations (Dl) of te Ilinas State Police which interviewed witnesses, compiled
reports and evidence from law enforcement agencies, the forensic laboratory, civilian
witnesses, medical experts, and crime scene investigators, and submited the results for
review by the CCSAO.Evaluation
‘The use of deadly force by a peace officer is governed by 720 ILCS 5/7-5(a) which states
A peace officer is justified in using force likey to cause death or great
bodily harm when:
(i) He reasonably believes, based on the totality ofthe circumstances,
that such force is necessary to prevent death or great bodlly harm to
himself or another person; oF
(i) when he reasonably believes, based on the totality of the
circumstances, both that:
3) Such force is necessary to prevent the arest from being defeated by
resistance or escape and the officer reasonably believes that the person
to be arrested is kely to cause great bodily harm to another; and
2) The person tobe arrested committed or attempted to commit a
forcible felony which involves the infliction or threatened infliction of
{reat bodily harm ori attempting to escape by use ofa deadly weapon,
or otherwise indicates that he will endanger human Ife or inflict great
bodily harm unless arrested without delay.
Inthe current circumstances, there is no evidence to support a conclusion of
Inappropriate use of force by law enforcement, Jackson was arestable for multiple
felonies, fled from officers in a manner that posed serious danger to the community,
resisted and threatened numerous law enforcement personnel, and was subject to,
warrarts for serious offenses involving firearms and causing great bodily harm or death
to.others. Insofar as Jackson mad a peaceful apprehension impossible, and emerged
‘rom the garage holding an object reasonably believed to be a deadly weapon, Trooper
Hedges’ decision to discharge his own firearm was reasonable and legally justifiable
{tis werth noting that Jackson's actions could reasonably be interpreted as designed to
inducean officer to fire upon him. Indeed, there is ne discernible reason for Jackson to
take up and maintain the window-punch in his hand, refuse to drop the item when
‘ordered, or diect the item in a threatening manner, except to deliberately induce an
officer to believe he was armed and intending to open fire on that officer or others.
‘The Champaign County State's Attorney's Office concludes Trooper Hedges both
genuinaly and reasonably believed that deadly force was necessary to prevent an
imminent infliction of death or great bodily harm on himself and/or his fellow officers,
Undersea ofthe state of lino, the offcer’ use of desl force was justified
uariete Troy 0 tozar
Champaign County State's attorney SAO, Chief of Criminal Dvsion