Shooting at Illinois State Capitol Building, Suspect still at large!

WTAX Radio

[El Gato]

suspect entered the capitol building with a shotgun,

A shotgun? Kinda hard to just sneak up with one of those, except maybe in the dead of winter. Don't they have external cameras or "walking around" guards? Of course since the guards are unarmed, they couldn't do much but get shot themselves I suppose.

Texas state capital police have cowboy hats, and guns. They are part of the same department (of Public Safety) as the Texas Rangers. They also have external cameras at the entrances. No way is some yahoo going to walk up to that building with a shotgun.

[El Gato]

metal detectors were in place post 9/11/2001, but have been removed in recent years

Unless one is under 18, 9/11/2001 was in "recent years". It's only been three years, even if it sometimes seems like 3 decades.

[OldSgt.]

YA, I agree. didn't know when the changes took place. I left Springburg in the fall of '98. The Ex-wife back in '94 worked in the Howlett building. Makes sense that the doors up from street level are the ones open now. I take it your there in town. I grew-up there, left for 20 years, was back for 9 yrs, and now have been gone for 6 plus.

[Teacher317]

Neither the Governor nor the legislators in the building at the time.

[El Gato]

Not an assault rifle

Neither was the OK City bomb, but that didn't stop the gun grabbers from using that as an argument for the AWB.

[Fiddlstix]

BTTT

[Teacher317]

The story I read said that the Illinois Capitol has no metal detectors and no armed guards. (No subtle hints there...)

Here in Indiana, the Capitol has no metal detectors, but has armed capitol police on site.

[egarvue]

Update

Secretary of state's press conference: guard HAS died of his wounds. Guard was on post checking ID's. Suspect might be tied to shooting at local gun shop earlier in the day, in which a person carried in a shotgun to the store and demanded a high-powered rifle. Worker at store recognized person as someone who stole a shotgun earlier (these details are still fuzzy). Suspect is still at large, (white male blond bowl haircut blue shirt & jeans), white or silver car, got out of vehicle, ran inside, shot guard, ran outside and left. To recap: state authorities are now confirming that the guard has died. Governor Blagojevich is coming down from Chicago and will presumably give a statement later today.

[Americanwolfsbrother]

My prayers go out to this man and his family. When will politicians stop putting average people's lives in jeopardy for trying to do their job? No metal detectors and the guard was unarmed is an absolute shame on those responsible for security at the capital.

[exnavy]

Great reporting, thanks for the updates.

[egarvue]

Update

Activity near Ash and Spring streets has been confirmed by sherrif's department as police checking out a suspect vehicle. Sherrif has confirmed that that investigation is complete, there is no suspect at that location. Suspect is still at large. No visual clues (video feeds, pictures, etc.) have yet been released, if they do exist. Lots of national news media on the scene now, I'll update as I can but there's nothing more really to report now.

[Carolinamom]

Why have an UNARMED security guard?

[mesoman7]

I suppose body armor is also considered "inappropriate" for capitol security guards. Certainly wouldn't want to tilt the playing field unfairly against the shooter. Perhaps the IL lawmakers should face reckless endangerment charges for sending their guards to do their job without the proper tools.

Instead, they will probably be scratching their heads (or other parts of their anatomy) tying to figure out what legislation to push through to prevent this in the future...MORE GUN CONTROL! (sarcasm off)

[egarvue]

I will find out and post the date that the metal detectors were removed from the capitol. Security guards at the capitol were employed by the Secretary of State's office, and were not hired under a program in which they would be allowed to carry weapons.

[Americanwolfsbrother]

I suppose body armor is also considered "inappropriate" for capitol security guards


BODY ARMOR!?!?! Are you trying to turn us into a military state? The guard had a personal protection whistle; that should be more than enough protection. /sarcasm

[Americanwolfsbrother]

I will find out and post the date that the metal detectors were removed from the capitol.


They were removed to soon for this poor guard.

[snapperjk]

..suppose body armor is also considered "inappropriate" for capitol security...

Makes me think of the recent flap over the Air Marshals having to follow a business type of atire while on working the flights. Why not just wear a tag.. Hello! I'm an Air Marshall!

[Fatuncle]

"Don't shoot! Don't shoot! I'm a fellow Democrat!"

[Ruy Dias de Bivar]

***Not an assault rifle***

A 12 guage shotgun, capable of firing nine .31 cal projectiles(00 Buckshot), with ONE pull of the trigger!

Doomed, I tell you! Doomed!

[Redbob]

A shotgun?
But I thought those were only used for duckhunting?

I mean, even John Kerry has a shotgun - although it's illegal in his home state.

I thought you had to use one of those dreaded "assault weapons" when you did something like this?