An Aledo man killed two people in Moline before taking his own life in Coralville, Iowa. The Moline Police Department said in a press release that both suspicious deaths in Moline on January 24, 2024, were ruled homicides and identified the suspect as the son of one victim and a close friend of the other victim. An occupant at a residence in the 3300 block of 25th Avenue reported an unknown medical problem for 55-year-old Steven Herring inside the residence at 9:41 AM. Moline Police Crime Scene Investigators determined that Herring had been shot by a handgun and collected a shell casing from the residence.
A neighbor reported an unknown medical problem for 79-year-old Donna Ericson in the 1800 block of 46th Street at 10:37 AM. Crime Scene Investigators determined that Ericson had been shot by a handgun and collected a shell casing from the residence. The Moline Police Department requested an additional investigator from the Rock Island Sheriff’s Office and the Illinois State Police to process the crime scene.
Moline Police Department detectives learned that 55-year-old Chad Hillyer of Aledo was the son of Ericson and a close friend of Herring. Investigators gathered evidence, including cellular records and video evidence, which showed a white 2007 GMC truck owned by Hillyer near both residences in the early morning of January 24th. Around 3 PM, Moline Police obtained a DNA search warrant and a search warrant for property owned by Hillyer in rural Aledo.
Around 7:30 PM, the Illinois State Police SWAT, the Mercer County Sheriff’s Office, and the Moline Police Department executed the search warrant at the rural Aledo residence. Hillyer was not located. The Illinois State Police Crime Scene Investigators processed the scene for evidence and collected a shell casing inside the residence. According to the Moline Police Department, a detective transported all three shell casings to the Davenport Police Department to process them through the National Integrated Ballistic Information Network. Moline Police said the analysis determined that all three shell casings had been fired from the same handgun.
Around 9:00 PM, the Coralville, IA, Police Department was dispatched for a suspicious vehicle on a rural road just off I380 on the border with Tiffin, IA. An officer located Hillyer deceased inside the vehicle from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. A firearm was collected from the scene. Coralville Police are still investigating this incident.
Moline Mayor Sangeetha Rayapati said, “Many thanks go to our police officers and all other agencies that worked with us to keep our community safe during this uncertain time. The collaboration and dedication to their work is highly commendable and we are extremely grateful for their work.” “On behalf of City Council, we acknowledge the pain and grief experienced by the families who have lost a loved one. Our hearts are with all who are impacted by this tragedy and we stand with them to offer support and understanding.”
Rock Island County Coroner Brian Gustafson will conduct autopsies on Herring and Erickson on Friday. The Johnson County Medical Examiner is investigating the death of Hillyer, and further tests and examinations are pending in their jurisdiction.
The Moline Police Department said they have considerable work to do in these cases, including sending blood evidence and DNA from the crime scenes to the Illinois State Police Forensic Laboratory. Detectives will coordinate with Johnson County to conduct a ballistic analysis of the firearm and shell casings at a laboratory. Laboratory analysis typically takes several months. Anyone with information is asked to call the police department at 309-797-0401, anonymously through Crime Stoppers at 309-762-9500, or through the P3 Tips App.
“Our thoughts are with the families impacted by this tragedy. This is an extremely large and complex case and we are grateful for the assistance and collaboration from several law enforcement partners.” The Moline Police Department was assisted by the Rock Island County Sheriff’s Office, the Illinois State Police Division of Criminal Investigation, the Illinois State Police Special Operations Command, the Illinois State Police Division Crime Scene Services, the Milan Police Department, the Rock Island Police Department, the Mercer County Sheriff’s Office, the Coralville Police Department, the Rock Island County Coroner, the Johnson County Medical Examiner, and the Rock Island County State’s Attorney.
