7th Person Charged In Connection With Cop Killing Near Kankakee, State Police Say

BRADLEY, IL — A Kankakee-area man was recently arrested and is the latest person charged in connection with the 2021 killing of a police sergeant, according to authorities.

Xavier Harris, 22, of Bradley, is charged with two counts of obstructing justice and two counts of aiding a fugitive — both felonies — in relation to the death of Bradley police Sgt. Marlene Rittmanic, state police said.

Rittmanic was fatally shot the night of Dec. 29, when police responded to a report of dogs barking in an unattended vehicle outside a Comfort Inn hotel, according to law enforcement. Rittmanic was killed during the response, and Officer Tyler Bailey was shot and critically wounded, police said.

Darius Sullivan and Xandria Harris were charged with first-degree murder in connection with the incident, according to police.

After a hotel employee gave Rittmanic and Bailey the room number for the dog owner, prosecutors said the officers knocked on the door multiple times, with Bailey identifying themselves as police, and Xandria Harris responding several times that she was coming out.

Prosecutors said Xandria Harris eventually attempted to squeeze through the door and shut it behind her to prevent the officers from arresting Sullivan, who had an outstanding warrant.

As she struggled with the officers, who tried to remove her from the doorway, prosecutors said Sullivan came around a corner in the hotel room with a gun and shot Bailey in the head. Prosecutors said Sullivan shot at Rittmanic as she attempted to retreat before chasing her down the hallway and calling to Xandria Harris to help him disarm her.

Kankakee County State's Attorney Jim Rowe asked the U.S. Attorney's Office to seek the death penalty in the case against Sullivan and Xandria Harris, saying they killed Rittmanic with her own gun even as she pleaded for her life.

Sullivan was apprehended in Indiana a day after the killing, and Xandria Harris turned herself in days later.

Rowe issued a news release Friday on the new obstructing charges against Xavier Harris.

“Today’s charges are the result of our collective commitment to ensure that every individual who aided and assisted in the events of December 29, 2021, are held accountable,” Rowe said in a news release Friday. “I commend the Illinois State Police for never giving up and for continuing to bring all involved to justice.”

Including four people charged in connection to the case by Indiana authorities, Xavier Harris is the seventh person to face charges, according to Rowe.

Xavier Harris was arrested Wednesday and issued a $75,000 bond Friday, police said.

Anyone with information about the case is asked to call state police at 815-698-2315 or Crime Stoppers at 815-932-7463. Callers may remain anonymous.