Officer Fatally Shoots Suspect

The suspect was shot in the chest, later dying from his injuries. His name is not being released, only that he is a 26-year-old white man. The shooter is a Rockford police officer. His name is also being withheld. He is a patrol officer with eight to ten years of service. "Shoot me, shoot me, shoot me." That`s what Rockford Police Chief Dominic Iasparro says was yelled at the officer who fatally shot the suspect. "The suspect reached into his pocket came out of his pocket and went into a shooting stance as if he had a weapon," says Iasparro. "But no weapon has been recovered," says Iasparro. In fact, Iasparro says nothing even resembling a weapon has been found on the scene. "Hes obviously upset by what happened," says Iasparro referring to the unnamed officer. The man was shot in a parking lot near the corner of Riverside and North Main, but the incident started across the street in the Hilander parking lot. Iasparro says the suspect was harassing customers there. "Ive been told he actually chased the woman into the store and employees of the store forced him out of the store," says Iasparro. "And apparently he was asking for money from different people in the parking lot." Hilander employees had no comment, and Iasparro says it`s too early in the investigation for any clues as to the suspect`s motive. "Its certainly a strange occurrence that took place," says Iasparro. "What was in this person`s mind, hopefully we`ll be able to figure it out." The states attorney`s office has been called in and an investigation has been started. The officer will be temporarily relieved of duty.