Bureau County Sheriff’s Office releases statement and body cam footage from Mother’s Day fatal hostage incident

The Bureau County Sheriff’s Office is calling a deadly hostage incident an “unspeakable tragedy” after a three-year-old boy was killed during a domestic violence response. Officials say body-camera video shows officers confronting an armed suspect barricaded in a room with multiple hostages. According to the department, the suspect threatened to kill them, then lunged toward the hostages as officers entered. Police say officers had only seconds to respond in what they described as an extremely dangerous and unpredictable situation. The department says the child’s death is devastating, while urging the public to review the full video before judging the officers’ actions. Sheriff Reed said, “This case is a heartbreaking reminder that the most dangerous moments in policing often involve attempts to protect the most vulnerable people under the most extreme circumstances imaginable.” Find the link to the video below.

A special prosecutor has concluded no criminal charges will be filed in a Bureau County case involving Sgt. Foster, Anthony Rodriguez, and a minor. In a letter to Judge Caffarini, Special Prosecutor Brian Towne says his office conducted an independent review of ambulance reports, emergency recordings, body and dash camera video, police reports, crime scene materials, medical records, coroner reports, department policy, personnel files, and toxicology results. Towne says the victim’s family was consulted under the Illinois Rights of Crime Victims Act. The decision applies only to potential criminal charges and does not address any possible civil claims. The case file will now be closed.

Damian’s family says he was a joyful, loving child, and they are raising funds on “GoFundMe” to help cover funeral expenses.

The following is the full statement from Sheriff Reed:

This incident has been an unspeakable tragedy for our community, our department, and, most importantly, for the little boy’s family. An innocent three-year-old child lost his life, and no words can lessen that loss. We grieve alongside everyone affected. 

The body-camera footage shows officers responding to what law enforcement professionals recognize as perhaps the most dangerous, volatile, and unpredictable situation an Officer can ever face. Domestic violence calls are extraordinarily dangerous under any circumstances. The danger increases exponentially when an armed suspect barricades himself inside a room with multiple hostages. It reaches its apex when that suspect threatens to kill those hostages and has the immediate ability to do so. 

At that moment, officers are left with no risk-free option. They can delay intervention and risk the suspect carrying out his threat, or they can enter and attempt to stop the attack. Here, after the suspect threatened to kill the hostages, officers entered the room. When he lunged at the hostages, they had only a split second to act. 

The outcome was devastating. A child who should be alive is gone. Acknowledging the extraordinary danger officers confronted does not diminish that tragedy. We ask the public to watch the video in its entirety and to consider the impossible circumstances the officers faced as they attempted to stop what they believed was the imminent murder of multiple hostages. 

This case is a heartbreaking reminder that the most dangerous moments in policing often involve attempts to protect the most vulnerable people under the most extreme circumstances imaginable.” 

WARNING: The body cam footage is very graphic and will be disturbing to most viewers. Viewer discretion is strongly advised. You can view the video release from the Bureau County Sheriff’s Office website.