Three officers were shot while responding to a home in northern Illinois and the suspect was also wounded, official says

DIXON, Ill. (AP) — Three sheriff’s deputies were shot Wednesday while responding to a home in northern Illinois, and the suspect was also wounded, authorities said.

Ogle County Sheriff Brian VanVickle said deputies were responding to a report that someone inside the home in the Lost Lake community near Dixon was threatening to commit suicide or kill others. He said the suspect was also shot. He did not provide any information about the suspect, including his name, age or where he lives.

VanVickle said a family member called police shortly after 8:30 a.m. to report threats from someone in the home. He said negotiators tried to reach the person by phone and decided to go in shortly before noon.

“Immediately upon entering the home, our officers received fire from inside the home,” he said.

VanVickle initially attempted to walk away from reporters after giving a statement without further details, but responded to shouted questions by saying that all of the injured “are in good condition.”

A spokesperson for Katherine Shaw Bethea Hospital in Dixon said three people were taken to the hospital’s emergency department, two of whom were treated and released. The spokesperson did not reveal the condition of the third person.

Illinois State Police will handle the investigation into the shooting, VanVickle said. The agency did not immediately respond to an email from The Associated Press seeking comment.

Aerial video released by local media Wednesday afternoon showed police and personal vehicles parked on the side of unpaved roads throughout the neighborhood and officials occasionally gathering in small groups but with little ongoing activity. Yellow police tape blocked at least one driveway and an Ogle County sheriff’s mobile command center was parked at the end of the road.

The Lost Lake homeowners association describes the area as a “rural-style community” with about 700 homeowners in an unincorporated area near the cities of Dixon, Franklin Grove and Oregon, about 100 miles (160 kilometers) to the west. from Chicago.

Associated Press reporters Kathleen Foody in Chicago and Corey Williams in Detroit contributed to this report.