STERLING, Ill. — Sterling Police responded to a call of a shooting at approximately 9:36 pm Saturday evening, May 1st at 901 West 19th Street in Sterling. The caller told police that a male had been shot.
When officers arrived they located 39-year-old Joshua N. Hamrick of Sterling in the back yard of the residence. Officers and paramedics immediately began rendering aid before transporting him to CGH Medical Center in Sterling where he was pronounced dead.
Police are currently looking for the suspect, 35-year-old Michael W. Bennett who is not in custody at this time. An arrest warrant has been issued for Bennett charging him with first-degree murder with a bond of 2 million dollars.
Police say they believe this was an isolated incident since the suspect and the victim both knew each other.
Anyone with information or knowledge of Bennett's whereabouts is asked to contact the Sterling Police Department at 815-632-6640 extension 5 or Whiteside County Crimestoppers at 815-625-7867.
