ROCKFORD, Ill. — Authorities are currently negotiating with a man suspected of fatally shooting a member of the U.S. Marshals fugitive task at a Rockford hotel Thursday.
State police chased suspect Floyd E. Brown, 39, on southbound Interstate 55 until he ran over spike strips that disabled his vehicle. The suspect then lost control and crashed near Lincoln, Ill.
The name of the officer has not been released, but he has been identified as a McHenry County Sheriff’s deputy.
I-55 is temporarily shut down in both directions in the area while police negotiate with Brown. Route 66 is also temporarily shut down.
This all started at about 9:15 a.m. Thursday at the Extended Stay Hotel on North Bell School Road in Rockford.
The task force was serving a warrant on Brown at the hotel when he opened fire. Police believe he jumped from his third floor hotel room window, and fled the scene in a Mercury Grand Marquis.
A female acquaintance of the suspect was also shot in the incident. Police say the gunshot wound she sustained is believed to be from the suspect. She is being treated at a Rockford hospital.
Prosecutors in Winnebago County had issued an arrest warrant for Brown on an attempted murder charge with a bond of $5 million. However, the charges may be upgraded now that the officer is dead.
This is a developing story.
