2 police officers shot in Macomb, Illinois; suspect in custody after nearly day-long standoff
MACOMB, Ill. (CBS) -- Two police officers were shot and wounded in downstate Macomb, Illinois, on Wednesday night, and the suspect was taken into custody several hours later after a lengthy standoff.
Macomb Police Chief Jeff Hamer said officers were serving a warrant in the 300 block of North Normal Street in Macomb around 6:45 p.m. Wednesday, when a suspect inside the home shot two officers. It was not clear if the officers returned fire.
The officers were taken to McDonough District Hospital and transferred to a trauma center in Peoria for treatment. Both officers were released from the hospital Thursday morning to continue their recovery at home.
Hamer said one person outside the home was detained, but later released without charges. The suspected shooter remained barricaded inside the home for nearly 20 hours before surrendering around 2:10 p.m. on Thursday, according to Hamer.
The suspect, 38-year-old Shaiking Mathis, has been charged with four counts of aggravated battery to a police officer, and one count of aggravated discharge of a firearm, and is being held at the McDonough County Jail, according to Hamer. Additional charges were pending Thursday afternoon.
Macomb, Illinois is located southwest of Peoria, and about 250 miles from Chicago. It is the seat of McDonough County and the home of Western Illinois University.
Western Illinois University and Wesley Christian Child Development Center both closed their campuses on Thursday due to the standoff.
