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Death penalty sought for suspects accused of fatally shooting Illinois police officer, wounding another
Jessica Schladebeck
January 4, 2022, 7:35 PM
A pregnant mother-of-three and the man accused of fatally shooting one Illinois police officer and wounding another could face the death penalty in connection with the deadly violence.
While Illinois does not typically carry out executions, prosecutors can file a petition with the U.S. Attorney General’s Office seeking the death penalty in certain federal murder cases.
Kankakee County State’s Attorney Jim Rowe announced he would submit such a request on Monday during a bond hearing for 26-year-old Xandria Harris. She was charged alongside Darius Sullivan for the shooting death of 49-year-old Bradley police Sgt. Marlene Rittmanic and critically wounding her 27-year-old partner, Officer Tyler Bailey Wednesday night.
This combo of images released by the Illinois State Police, shows Darius D. Sullivan, left, and Xandria A. Harris.
This combo of images released by the Illinois State Police, shows Darius D. Sullivan, left, and Xandria A. Harris.
Both officers were responding to a report regarding dogs barking inside an unattended vehicle, parked at the time outside Comfort Inn in Kankakee County. According to Rowe, Sullivan fired off several rounds shortly after the pair of deputies knocked on the door of their hotel room amid their search for the dog owners.
“Darius Sullivan fired two shots from what we believe was Sgt. Rittmanic’s service weapon, striking Sgt. Rittmanic in or about the throat and or neck,” Rowe told the court.
Bradley Police Department Sergeant Marlene Rittmanic, 49, of Kankakee, Illinois, was killed in the line-of-duty on Dec. 29, 2021 at the Comfort Inn on Rt 50 in Bradley, Ill.
Bradley Police Department Sergeant Marlene Rittmanic, 49, of Kankakee, Illinois, was killed in the line-of-duty on Dec. 29, 2021 at the Comfort Inn on Rt 50 in Bradley, Ill. (Bradley Police Department/)
Rowe also explained how Harris, Sullivan’s girlfriend at the time, helped disarm Rittmanic, calling her “equally responsible” for the fatal gunfire, WLS reported.
“Sgt. Rittmanic was pleading with them to just leave, ‘you don’t have to do this, please just go. Please don’t. Please don’t,’” Rowe said. “Throughout the entire interaction, she was pleading for her life.”
Rittmanic was pronounced dead after the shooting while Bailey remained in a Chicago-area hospital on Tuesday.
The State’s Attorney also intends to seek life sentences for both Sullivan and Harris as the existing state-level charges proceed, Rowe said.
Judge Kathy Bradshaw Elliott, during the hearing on Monday, dubbed Harris a “real threat to community” and denied her bail. Sullivan, who was taken into custody in Indiana, meanwhile is fighting extradition charges to Illinois.
Comments
Wood chipper set on idle seems like a good deterrent for future murderers.
Just dammit
too bad public hanging or the good old guillotine can not be used
no matter what I still think it would stop such crimes " as the left says when it comes to gun laws if only one person is saved its worth it
I agree, a public hanging and leave them strung up for a few weeks as a visual reminder of the consequences for acting like animals.
Prayers for the family of the deceased and for the recovery of the wounded officer. Bob
I have no problem with the state seeking the death penalty. However if the state would not seek the death penalty if the person killed was not an officer then it shouldn't be applied here. Murder is murder and the penalty should be applied equally.
I think executions should be public. Not as a warning to others but as a reminder to society that we endorse and allow it. I have no problem with the death penalty being applied appropriately. I have an issue with hiding it.