According to Springfield police, a suspect was shot and injured after firing at police

Springfield Police Chief Ken Scarlette said Thursday that a 19-year-old man fired at police officers before an officer shot and wounded him. He is in stable condition and remains hospitalized.

The officer and three others at the scene are on paid leave, per department policy, while the Illinois State Police investigate. Scarlette and Mayor Misty Buscher held a press conference at City Hall to provide details and ask for calm during the investigation.

“We are here today to ensure transparency. My goal is to be open and honest with the citizens of Springfield,” he said.

Scarlette said police were investigating shots fired at an occupied residence in the 1600 block of South 16th Street on Wednesday afternoon. Witnesses provided a description of the vehicle and the person responsible, and the suspect was shown on social media with firearms, he said.

The vehicle was spotted in the area of ​​16th and Clearlake, then on Martin Luther King Jr. Dr., north of Kansas St., turning into the driveway of a business. At 11:28 p.m., Scarlette said, officers approached the suspect and ordered him to exit the vehicle. After initially refusing, he eventually complied, but a struggle with officers ensued.

“The suspect evaded arrest and began to turn and flee. At the same time, he fired a shot in the direction of our officers on the scene,” Scarlette said. He added that two officers were in close proximity and one immediately returned fire. The suspect was hit and was bleeding from the back area.

Scarlette said officers administered first aid until paramedics arrived. The suspect, whose name was not released, is in stable condition at the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

Two other occupants of the vehicle were arrested and questioned about the earlier shooting incident.

Scarlette said that while police were securing the scene, a crowd formed and began throwing objects and making vulgar comments at the officers. No arrests were made.

“People are working diligently to make sure this is handled in a professional manner, that everything is addressed and that there are no questions from people hiding behind desks or in an ivory tower or whatever you call it,” Mayor Buscher said.

The police chief and mayor met with key stakeholders such as the NAACP, Black Lives Matter, Faith Coalition for the Common Good and others to share details of the incident and show them police body camera footage.

“I am proud that we owe these relationships to ongoing dialogue,” said Scarlette.

A meeting was also held with the suspect's family. “The purpose of this meeting was to give them the honor of hearing from the head of the police department and the head of the city about what happened to their son and grandson. I think it's only fair to the people in the community to give them the opportunity to speak and ask questions,” Scarlette said.

“Our men and women come to work every day with the mindset of keeping the community safe. I am proud of the job they do and that was demonstrated last night,” he added.

“I ask the community to remain peaceful and to overcome this tragic situation together.”