This just in…
Wednesday, Apr 24, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Ugh…
Five people are dead and one injured in a shooting in the Village of Manchester, Illinois, according to Mayor Ronald Drake.
WLDS told NewsChannel 5 a suspect is in custody.
The Scott County Sheriff’s Department said a child was taken to a Springfield, Illinois hospital.
The pastor of Manchester Baptist Church told NewsChannel 5 that the murders happened inside a public housing complex on East Street Wednesday morning.
Multiple schools are on lockdown. The Jacksonville School District 117 secretary to Superintendent Steve Ptacek said the school is closed in response to a recent shootout with a suspect on Woodson Winchester Road. North Greene Unit School District #3 is closed and WLDS Radio reports Winchester schools are closed.
Manchester is about 85 miles north of St. Louis.
* More…
Mayor Drake said the attack took place in a home on 4th Street. Drake says the suspect fled and was caught near Winchester about 12 miles from Manchester.
The mayor said he has no idea what led to it.
“Not that I know of. This is a nice little town and I have no problems with anybody. What took place, I cannot tell you,” he said.
Illinois State Police are not yet releasing the names and ages of those involved. Drake said the survivor is in stable condition.
* More…
Keep your political thoughts out of comments, please.
- Anon - Wednesday, Apr 24, 13 @ 8:55 am:
People killing kids with guns. It’s awful.
- RonOglesby - Wednesday, Apr 24, 13 @ 8:57 am:
@Anon, people killing anyone not in self defense is awful.
- Anon - Wednesday, Apr 24, 13 @ 8:59 am:
I live near Manchester and some of the ones killed are young children. My heart breaks for this family and this senseless act!
- Blockhead - Wednesday, Apr 24, 13 @ 9:21 am:
[Comment deleted by Rich Miller]
- Boat captain - Wednesday, Apr 24, 13 @ 9:22 am:
Live near Manchester and have traveled through there many times. A small town like many in southern IL, when something like this happens it shakes the whole community, where everyone knows everyone, a sad thing and my thoughts and prayers go out to the families affected by this tragedy.
- Amalia - Wednesday, Apr 24, 13 @ 9:24 am:
Prayers for the victims and their loved ones, and for the people of and around the town for whom this violence is so personally and immediately disturbing. We are Manchester.
- Slick Willy - Wednesday, Apr 24, 13 @ 9:25 am:
Only took four posts to make it political. Way to live up to your moniker.
My prayers to the families of the victims and wishes for a swift recovery to the survivor.
- wordslinger - Wednesday, Apr 24, 13 @ 9:25 am:
Happens anywhere, everywhere.
- Darienite - Wednesday, Apr 24, 13 @ 9:35 am:
Thoughts and prayers to the people of Winchester and the families of those tragically taken.
- Stones - Wednesday, Apr 24, 13 @ 9:46 am:
Devastating for any town, particularly a small village. Condolences to the familes and friends of the families involved.
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Apr 24, 13 @ 9:55 am:
Did it happen in Manchester or Winchester
- Mongo - Wednesday, Apr 24, 13 @ 9:58 am:
Manchester…horrible wherever it happened. Thoughts and prayers to all affected. Help the Village get back up off the ground.
- Chavez-respecting Obamist - Wednesday, Apr 24, 13 @ 10:05 am:
That’s so awful. In a town of 300 people, everyone there has to have known at least one of the victims and probably the perp as well.
The Trib says there was a little girl in the house who was unharmed.
- walkinfool - Wednesday, Apr 24, 13 @ 10:29 am:
So sorry for the families and community.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Apr 24, 13 @ 10:40 am:
So very sad. My heart oges out to the Families and the Town.
- just sayin' - Wednesday, Apr 24, 13 @ 11:11 am:
That’s a chunk of the town’s population. Sad.
- Secret Square - Wednesday, Apr 24, 13 @ 12:06 pm:
Trib reports that the victims are a young woman, her grandmother, her boyfriend, and the couple’s two sons (ages 1 and 5). A 7-year-old girl survived. The suspect is a man who was apparently involved in a child custody battle with another woman in the family (not one of the victims).
- Secret Square - Wednesday, Apr 24, 13 @ 12:11 pm:
And if I’m reading the Trib story right, the suspect/shooter is also dead:
“A suspect was taken into custody after a police chase that ended with shots fired, officials said. He was pronounced dead at a hospital, officials said.”
- 3rd Generation Chicago Native - Wednesday, Apr 24, 13 @ 12:22 pm:
Just so sad. No one is safe anywhere.
- Yellow Dog Democrat - Wednesday, Apr 24, 13 @ 12:35 pm:
My grandmother was a pastor not to far from Manchester. A great little town, like so many in Western Illinois, that seems somewhat frozen in an earlier, more idyllic age. Where most people don’t lock their doors, and “Homecoming” is actually a homecoming for those who have moved far and wide to reunite with old schoolmates, friends and neighbors.
They have a strong sense of community which will help weather the storm.
- frmrdav - Wednesday, Apr 24, 13 @ 12:43 pm:
Very, very sad. At least the perp got what he had coming without tons of tax $$ spent keeping him alive and then on trial.
- G. Willickers - Wednesday, Apr 24, 13 @ 1:35 pm:
@ 3rd Gen - “Just so sad. No one is safe anywhere.”
Mankind never has been.
Nowadays it’s guns, car accidents and industrial mishaps.
150 years ago it was Jack the Ripper, runaway horse and carriages and the occasional Plague.
But throughout history there’ve been wildfires, earthquakes, floods and even the occasional wild animal.
- Susiejones - Wednesday, Apr 24, 13 @ 1:54 pm:
very sad. the Peoria Journal Star twitter also says the shooter is dead. prayers for the families of the victims and for the community.
- Secret Square - Wednesday, Apr 24, 13 @ 1:56 pm:
“150 years ago it was Jack the Ripper, runaway horse(s) and carriages and the occasional plague.”
Not to mention the occasional civil war…
- rusty618 - Wednesday, Apr 24, 13 @ 2:19 pm:
Eerily similar to quintuple murder (with one survivor also) in Beason in 2009. The suspect in that case is due to stand trial starting next week.
- railrat - Wednesday, Apr 24, 13 @ 2:23 pm:
such a tragedy when anyone is a victim but kids are so innocent, just as the past couple of weeks sorry to say its “not if it will happen to you but when” what a terrible testimony !!!
- Boone Logan Square - Wednesday, Apr 24, 13 @ 3:00 pm:
The survivor is a six-year-old kid. What horrible violence that child witnessed.
- Anon - Wednesday, Apr 24, 13 @ 4:04 pm:
KHQA in Quincy saying suspect was killed in a shootout with state troopers.