Rockford's Independent Newspaper

Police: Man suspected of shooting deputy in Rockford crashed car in Logan County

Woman was also shot

Floyd Brown is also wanted in connection with a 2018 burglary in Bloomington.

Staff Report

ROCKFORD — The man suspected of shooting a sheriff’s deputy and a woman Thursday at the Extended Stay America hotel crashed his vehicle along an interstate highway while trying to flee police, law enforcement reported.

While what have been described as “negotiation efforts” with the suspect are underway, the Winnebago County State’s Attorney has issued warrant with $5 million bond against Floyd E. Brown, 39, for attempted murder in the shooting of McHenry County Sheriff’s Deputy Jacob Keltner.

According to the McHenry County Sheriff’s Facebook page, Keltner, an almost 13-year veteran, died shortly after 3 p.m., Thursday, at a Rockford hospital.

Police described the woman as an acquaintance of Brown and said she suffered non-life-threatening injuries after being hit with one of Brown’s rounds.

The shootings happened at around 9:15 a.m.,  as a U.S. Marshal’s Service fugitive task force tried to serve Brown with an arrest warrant. Brown fled the hotel and traveled about 170 miles south to Logan County, police said.

“He is still inside his vehicle off the interstate in a field in a rural area,” Illinois State Police Master Sgt. Sam Thomas said. “Negotiation efforts are in process.”

Interstate 55 is closed in both directions as of this report.

Earlier Thursday, Rockford police Lt. Andre Brass said police believe Brown has a rifle and should be “considered armed and dangerous.”

Police said Brown was wanted on warrants from multiple Illinois counties when the task force went to an Extended Stay America hotel in Rockford, a city about 80 miles northwest of Chicago. Brown is from the Springfield area, in central Illinois.

“We just want to end this incident peacefully with his surrender,” Brass said. “We have prayers for the officer that was hit and we have prayers for the officers that are trying to locate the suspect.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

This story has been updated to report the name of the fallen officer. 

404 Not Found

404 Not Found


nginx/1.18.0