A police officer was shot Saturday morning after responding to a call in suburban Park Forest, authorities confirmed.
Approximately 5:40 a.m., Park Forest Police responded to a call in the 300 block of Neola St, investigating a break-in and a stolen vehicle at that location, according to police. Officer Christopher Mannino, Deputy Chief of Police for the Park Forest Police Department, said neighbors called police when they heard glass breaking outside.
Officers discovered there was a person inside the vacant residence, and a perimeter was set up around the building, Mannino said. The suspect then tried to leave the house through a window, and as officers attempted to detain him, he produced a handgun and began firing on officers, police say.
Park Forest Police confirmed that officers returned fire, striking the suspect, who was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics.
Officer Tim Jones was shot, according to Park Forest Mayor John Ostenburg. Jones was transported to St. James Hospital in Olympia Fields and then air lifted to Christ Medical Center, according to police. No further information on his condition was available, but police confirmed that he suffered "life-threatening injuries" during the exchange.
Shortly before 7 p.m., authorities identified the deceased suspect as 21-year-old Thurman Reynolds of Park Forest.
The incident is under investigation by the Illinois State Police Public Integrity Task Force, police say.
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Ostenburg said Jones has been with the department for about a year, and comes from a line of family police officers.
Check back for updates on this developing story.
