Update: Illinois State Police say it appears the offender, 43-year-old Rick Smith forced entry through the backdoor of the residence where five people were killed early Wednesday morning. It is also suspected that the weapon used in the shooting was a shotgun.
According to the police report, witnesses say Smith took the 6-year-old girl wounded in the shooting and placed her in the care of a neighbor.
Authorities say during a police-pursuit, the offender got out of his car and shot at police. Officers returned fire at Smith, who was then taken into custody and brought to a hospital in critical condition.
He was pronounced dead at the hospital at about 10:10 a.m. on Wednesday.
Original story published April 24, 2013:
Five people were reportedly killed and one person was injured in a shooting at a residence in Manchester, Illinois.
The shooting was reported around 4:30 a.m. Wednesday, April 24, 2013. It happened in a one-story apartment building.
State Police said a six-year-old girl was found in the apartment. She was hospitalized in critical condition.
Witnesses told police the suspect left the scene in a white Chevy Lumina. Police confirmed shots were exchanged during a police pursuit with the suspect just before 7:30 a.m. The suspect was apprehended at Illinois Route 106 and Woodston Blacktop.
Police said they recovered multiple weapons from the suspect's car. They believe he acted alone.
KTVI reported the suspect was taken to a hospital where he was later pronounced dead
KTVI reports three school districts in the area – Northgreene, Winchester and Jacksonville schools – cancelled classes Wednesday.
