Shooter Near Western Illinois Campus Surrenders After 20-Hour Standoff: Police

MACOMB, IL — A man who opened fire Wednesday evening on two Macomb police officers surrendered Thursday afternoon following a nearly 20-hour standoff, according to authorities.

Shaiking M. Mathis, 38, of the 300 block of North Normal Street in Macomb, is charged with four counts of aggravated battery to a police officer and one count of aggravated discharge of a firearm, with additional charges pending, police said.

The incident began around 6:44 p.m. Wednesday, after officers arrived at a North Normal Street home, located about a half-mile from Western Illinois University, to serve a search warrant, according to police. The officers knocked and announced themselves repeatedly before forcing entry, at which time Mathis immediately opened fire, police said.

The officers were struck in the lower torso and leg, Macomb Police Chief Jeff Hamer said during a press conference Thursday afternoon streamed on Facebook Live.

Both were initially in critical condition and were taken to a trauma center in Peoria, but they were stable by late Wednesday, and, as of Thursday afternoon, the officers were home and expected to make a full recovery, according to Hamer.

Negotiations with Mathis continued for the better part of a day before he peacefully surrendered around 2:10 p.m., Hamer said, noting there were no additional injuries.

“The professionalism and bravery they displayed during this entire incident and their dedication to the citizens of Macomb is to be commended,” Hamer said of his department.

He declined to comment on what police were looking for when they went to serve the warrant or whether they returned Mathis’s fire, citing an ongoing investigation.

State police are conducting a use-of-force probe, according to Hamer.

Mathis was taken to jail and will appear in court Friday for a detention hearing, Hamer said, adding he is not a Western Illinois student and has a limited criminal history that is more than 12 years old. Macomb police and the McDonough County Sheriff’s Office had had no prior contact with Mathis, according to Hamer.

Hamer did not believe there was anyone else in the home as of Thursday afternoon but clarified that authorities were still searching the property. The chief previously said a second person who was outside the residence was detained, identified and released as the shooter remained barricaded.

Western Illinois closed both its Macomb and Quad Cities campuses Thursday in response to the incident.