MINOOKA, IL — The Illinois State Police have taken over an investigation that resulted in the closure of Interstate 80 going east toward Joliet near the Ridge Road interchange for several hours on Monday night.
A law enforcement source in the know said it was their understanding that the Morris Police Department was trying to stop a motorist who refused to pull over and then drove on to I-80 to get away from the squad car.
Eventually, the source said police officers found the motorist apparently suffered a gunshot wound, believed to be self-inflicted, and they were the sole occupant inside the vehicle along the eastbound stretch of I-80. Nobody in law enforcement had fired their weapon, the source indicated.
However, the Morris Police Department issued a press release on Tuesday morning, but the statement omitted any mention of a shooting incident — but it did reference that the motorist had a gun.
At 6:02 a.m. on Tuesday, Joliet Patch received the following response from the Illinois State Police: "We will look into your inquiry and get back to you," Trooper Jayme Bufford, Illinois State Police, Public Information/Safety Education Office.
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