State’s attorney to review results of Integrity Task Force investigation of Jan. 28 police-involved shooting death

Amado Soria

Online Staff Report

Winnebago County State’s Attorney Joe Bruscato announced March 30 that the Winnebago County Integrity Task Force has completed its investigation into the Jan. 28 shooting involving Rockford Police Officer Amado Soria.

The investigation has centered on determining the events that resulted in the death of Phillip Johnson Jr., 29.

Johnson was shot and killed by Soria Jan. 28 after police responded to a 911 call of shots fired near the intersection of Fairview and East State Street.

Officers stopped a vehicle matching the description of the one involved in the 911 call in the 300 block of North Longwood. Johnson was a passenger in the vehicle, along with a female driver and another male occupant.

Police reportedly blocked the vehicle into a parking lot and approached the vehicle with guns drawn. The first two passengers then reportedly surrendered, leaving Johnson alone in the vehicle.

Johnson then allegedly leaned toward the passenger side of the vehicle, which is when Soria opened fire, killing Johnson.

Soria is an 18-year veteran of the force.

Lt. Kurt Cavanaugh, commander of the Integrity Task Force, delivered the results of the investigation to the Office of the State’s Attorney.

The Office of the State’s Attorney will now begin to review the investigation. Once a review of the investigation is complete, a final determination will be made about whether to present the case to a Winnebago County grand jury, as each case must be individually evaluated before finalizing the decision to proceed to the grand jury.

No specific timetable has been set for reaching the decision on presentation to the grand jury. A review of any investigation must be thorough, and also must allow for the possibility of follow-up investigation, according to the state’s attorney’s office. Should the need arise for follow-up investigation, those matters would continue to be handled by the Winnebago County Integrity Task Force.

Posted March 30, 2012