Illinois – The Kankakee County State’s Attorney is seeking the death penalty for two cop killer suspects.
Darius Sullivan, 25, and Xandria Harris, 26, were charged with fatally shooting Bradley, Illinois Police Sgt. Marlene Rittmanic and critically injuring her partner, Officer Tyler Bailey, 27 on December 29.
According to the Bradley Police Department, “at approximately 9:56 pm, the BPD responded to the Comfort Inn at 1500 north State Route 50 for reported dogs barking in an unattended vehicle which was parked in the parking lot.”
“Upon arrival, officers located a room inside the hotel where the possible owner of the vehicle was staying. Officers initiated conversation with the subjects in the room and during conversation the officers were attacked by the subjects occupying the room, whereas both officers were shot.”
Police Sgt. Marlene Rittmanic was “desperately pleading for her life” shortly before she was fatally shot with her own gun.
Officer Bailey was shot in the head and survived.
Kankakee County State’s Attorney Jim Rowe asked federal prosecutors to pursue the death penalty.
NBC Chicago reported:
A Bradley police sergeant was “desperately pleading for her life” moments before a gunman fatally shot her with the officer’s own gun, Kankakee County prosecutors said Monday.
Kankakee County State’s Attorney Jim Rowe is seeking life sentences for Darius Sullivan, 25, and Xandria Harris, 26, who face a litany of felony charges in last week’s hotel shooting that killed Bradley Police Sgt. Marlene Rittmanic and critically wounded her partner. He is pushing for federal murder charges to be filed against the two and for federal prosecutors to pursue the death penalty
As Harris struggled with the officers, Sullivan pointed the gun and shot Bailey in the head, Rowe said. He then allegedly turned the gun to Rittmanic and shot at her as she tried to run away.
Sullivan allegedly chased Rittmanic down the hallway before pinning her against a door. Sullivan struggled to unjam his gun using his right hand and mouth while also trying to disarm Rittmanic with his left hand, Rowe said.
As the scuffle ensued, Sullivan called out to Harris, telling her to “cock the gun, cock the gun,” prosecutors said. Harris joined Sullivan, helping him successfully disarm Rittmanic.
The two then stood over Rittmanic pointing guns at her as she laid on the floor, already shot once, Rowe said. She begged Sullivan not to shoot her.
“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. “She was desperately pleading for her life.”
With Harris holding Sullivan’s gun, Sullivan allegedly fired two shots from what prosecutors believe to be Rittmanic’s gun, striking the sergeant in the neck area.
Post a Comment