Chicago

‘I Don't Want to Die Tonight': Armed Homeowner Describes Encounter With Wilmington Manhunt Suspect

"He said, 'I don't want to die tonight' and I said, 'Well you shouldn't be in somebody's house'"

A Wilmington homeowner said he opened fire on an intruder in his home early Wednesday morning before issuing a warning to the man who was a suspect in a massive manhunt in the far southwest Chicago suburb

The resident, who asked to not be identified due to safety concerns, said he grabbed his gun after being alerted to an intruder in his home by his dog Bruiser. 

He opened fire on the stranger before shouting out a warning. 

"I won't fire a shot if you leave now," the homeowner said he told the man. "He said, 'I'm not leaving.' I said, 'Well, just go out the way you came and I won't shoot again. He said, 'I don't want to die tonight' and I said 'Well you shouldn't be in somebody's house.' And he took off out the back door." 

Neighbors reported the suspect jumped a fence after leaving the home. 

The man was ultimately taken into custody after he was found hiding under a trampoline in the backyard of a home in the Northcrest area, officials said.

The man was one of two suspects being sought in an hourslong manhunt through the rural community.

A second suspect was found hiding in a farmer's barn in unincorporated Will County, police said. 

That suspect was "apprehended" just after 10 a.m., according to Wilmington police, roughly four hours after officers began their search. 

"This has been going on since about 2 a.m. so to finally know that everyone's in custody and no one got hurt, that's the the big thing," Chief Phillip Arnold said. 

The incident began as Illinois State Police chased two alleged car jackers from Calumet City before the vehicle crashing through a fence in Wilmington and the suspects fled the scene. 

Several law enforcement agencies joined in a manhunt for the two suspects. 

At about 6 a.m., police in the far southwest suburban community asked that anyone in the Northcrest area, located near the intersection of East Kankakee River Drive and North Kankakee Street, stay inside behind locked doors, until further notice.

The second suspect was spotted several times throughout the rural community but it wasn't until a farmer said he saw movement near his barn that police were able to make an arrest, Arnold said. 

No weapon was found at the scene, according to authorities. 

City Administrator Joie Ziller said a "shelter in place" for the Chicago suburb was lifted around 10:10 a.m. 

Wilmington School District 209-U canceled all classes Wednesday "due to a local safety & law enforcement situation," the district wrote on Facebook. 

Classes remained canceled after the manhunt ended, the district said. 

"Very sorry for any inconvenience, but the safety & well-being of our students and staff is always the number one priority," the post read. "Will look forward to seeing our students back in class again [Thursday] morning." 

No charges had been filed as of 11 a.m. Wednesday, but police said they were expected. 

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