Romeoville residents told to shelter in place after officer shot while investigating stolen vehicle – NBC Chicago

Romeoville police are providing an update on the incident. The update will play in the video above once it begins.

Some Romeoville residents have been asked to shelter in place for hours after an officer investigating a stolen vehicle overnight was shot and killed by a suspect, police said.

As of 4 a.m. Thursday, the scene in the southwest suburbs remained active, with a heavy police presence at the intersection of Sierra Trail and Summerfield Drive as officers scoured the neighborhood.

Around 6 a.m., Illinois State Police confirmed that a suspect had been apprehended. No other details were provided.

Police say the incident happened at 12:13 a.m. near the intersection of Sierra Trail and Summerfield Drive. During a news conference early Thursday, Romeoville Police Chief Ken Croll said then-officers located a stolen vehicle that was unoccupied at the time. As officers approached the vehicle, a suspect approached officers on foot, Croll said.

“A foot chase ensued after that, and eventually an exchange of gunfire,” Croll said. “One of our police officers from Romeoville was hit.”

As the suspect fled, police said an officer was hit by gunfire in the right shoulder and taken to a nearby hospital. Croll did not reveal the officer’s medical condition but told reporters at Thursday’s press conference that the department was feeling “very positive.”

Earlier Thursday, officials said a search perimeter had been set up in the area as part of the active investigation.

“We’re asking everyone to stay indoors,” Croll said. “Let us do our job. If you have things, like the Ring Doorbell video that will be useful to us, please give us a call. Give us that information. But at this point, we ask the public to be careful, stay inside right now and let us do our job and find that person.”

Croll added that the Will County SWAT team and nearby agencies’ Major Crimes Task Force are assisting in the investigation.

“Things like that don’t happen too often,” Croll said, adding that the department was concerned about his colleague. “We’ll take care of our own and we’ll make an arrest.”

This is a developing story that will be updated as more information becomes available.