An Illinois police officer was killed with her own service weapon after pleading for her life. Her partner was also critically wounded.
Bradley Police Sgt. Marlene Rittmanic and Officer Tyler Bailey had responded to a call on Dec. 29 at a Comfort Inn Hotel about barking dogs in a vehicle.
The sheriff’s office explained that after finding the room where the vehicle’s possible owner was staying, the officers were shot while talking to people.
The Bradley Police Department reported that both officers were transported to nearby hospitals. Rittmanic died and Bailey was listed in critical condition before undergoing surgery.
On Monday, Kankakee County State’s Attorney Jim Rowe said “At the time Sullivan fired the fatal shots into Sgt. Rittmanic, 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.’ She was desperately pleading for her life”.
Fox 32 Chicago reported that Rowe has requested that federal prosecutors review the first-degree murder charges pending against Darius Sullivan and Xandria Harris and pursue a federal death sentence for them.
Rittmanic became part of the Bradley Police Department in 2007 and was promoted to sergeant in 2014. She also spent seven years as a deputy with the Iroquois County Sheriff’s Department.
Bailey’s family released a statement on Wednesday saying he is recovering from surgery and has “continued to fight for his life”. The family has also set up a GoFundMe page.
On Facebook, the department said “There have been several Go Fund Me fundraisers posted by supposed family members of Sgt Marlene Rittmanic. NONE of these are legit and the family will NOT be creating any fundraising pages through Go Fund Me”.
A visitation will be held for Sgt. Rittmanic on Thursday, Jan. 6 and her funeral will be held the next day.