2 Officers Wounded, Driver Dead In Traffic Stop Shooting: Police

DECATUR, IL — A 32-year-old man was shot dead and two police officers suffered gunshot wounds Wednesday after a motorist opened fire during a traffic stop, authorities said.

Around 12:30 a.m., officers pulled over a car in the 1300 block of East Walnut Street and ordered the driver to show his hands due to information they were aware of prior to the stop, according to Decatur police.

Police said the driver refused to show his hands and officers noticed what looked like a handgun in the car.

The officers tried to pull the man out of the car, police said, but as they did so, he pulled out a gun and fired multiple times at the officers at close range.

Officers returned fire, and the driver fired at them again. Three Decatur Police Department officers and a deputy from the Macon County Sheriff's Office fired shots during the incident, police said.

In the exchange of gunfire, one officer was shot once, another suffered multiple gunshot wounds, according to police.

Other officers rushed the wounded officers to Decatur Memorial Hospital. One was in stable condition, the other underwent surgery for his wounds, police said.

An ambulance took the driver to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead, according to police.

The Macon County Coroner's Office identified the motorist as Jamontay O. Neal, of Decatur. An autopsy is scheduled for Tuesday.

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The Illinois State Police are conducting an investigation into the shooting, and the officers involved have been placed on administrative leave, according to police. Both are standard procedure after such police shootings.

The shootout was captured on video by body-worn cameras as well as in-car videos, and police pledged in a statement to release the videos in the near future.

"Anytime there is a loss of life, we are saddened, and our condolences go out to the family and loved ones of the deceased," it said. "We are also hurting for our officers, who were out working the streets trying to confront violent offenders and they were faced with an officer’s worst nightmare. Our prayers go out to the family and friends of our officers."