Hard Rock Rockford Casino Site of Shooting, Man Critically Injured by Illinois Cops

An unnamed man was hospitalized in critical condition Saturday night after he was shot in the parking lot of Illinois’ . The suspect suffered “life-threatening” gunshot wounds, police revealed.

Police claim he “pointed” a firearm at officers. That led to numerous officers opening fire on the man.

Both Rockford Police Department officers and an off-duty Winnebago County Sheriff’s deputy were involved in the 8:30 pm incident.

Neither the deputy nor the officers were injured. No members of the public apparently suffered injuries.

Some officers were taken to a local hospital for examination as a precaution, WIFR, a local TV station, said.

Winnebago County Sheriff Gary Caruana said the off-duty deputy was working at the casino. A disturbance involving the man broke out, WTVO, another local TV station, reported.

Details on the incident were not provided Saturday night. Caruana and Rockford Police Chief Carla Redd both took part in a brief press conference at 10:30 pm.

The officials did not say what kind of weapon the man had, if he was warned to put down the weapon, or if the suspect ever fired a gun.

They also did not detail the wounded man’s injuries. Nor did officials reveal how many shots were fired by officers. One news report estimated it to have been “multiple rounds.”

They did say an investigation into the incident will be undertaken by the Winnebago-Boone County Integrity Task Force. It is made up of officers from 15 police departments in Boone and Winnebago counties.

A key question will likely be whether the officers acted under departmental policy and state law for the use of deadly force. The task force eventually will release more information, officials said. The time line remains unclear.

Late Saturday night, more than 20 police cars were at the gaming property, according to the Rockford Register Star, a local newspaper. Police used yellow tape to block off the parking lot.