Video Of Surrendering Man Killed By Will Co. Sniper Won't Be Released

ROMEOVILLE, IL — A review of the Illinois State Police website shows the agency regularly releases videos in a timely manner of police officers shooting and killing criminal suspects. But the May 10, 2022, deadly shooting of 65-year-old Crest Hill resident Gregory Walker by Will County Sheriff's sniper Lt. John Allen remains shielded in secrecy.

Even though 10 months have passed, the Illinois State Police continue to fight to keep secret all Fifth Third Bank surveillance video showing the senior citizen being fatally shot by Allen, a SWAT team sniper, at Romeoville's Fifth Third Bank on South Weber Road.

On Tuesday, Illinois State Police Freedom of Information Officer Sarah Wheeler sent Joliet Patch's editor a written response, denying Patch's Feb. 9 FOIA seeking access to "any and all Third Fifth Bank video camera surveillance that the Illinois State Police obtained of this incident, both inside and outside the bank, including Mr. Walker's shooting by Will County Sheriff's Lt. Allen."

Part of Wheeler's FOIA denial letter stated in part: "The release of information would allow witnesses and/or the defendant to collude so that their testimony matches or contradicts statements and/or evidence already collected by ISP. It could also inhibit witnesses from coming forward, jeopardizing their willingness to cooperate with the investigation. There may be additional witnesses who have not yet come forward and need to be interviewed.

"The recollection of the witnesses could be influenced by the requested information if it is released. The testimony of the involved parties may then be influenced by what they see in these preliminary reports, which means it would be prejudiced or biased. Finally, the release of this information at this time would serve to taint a jury pool, by allowing the potential jury to form an opinion as to a person's guilt or innocence prior to trial. Thus, the accused would be prevented from receiving a fair trial for all of the above reasons."

Three months before the shooting, Will County Sheriff Mike Kelley promoted Allen, then a sergeant, to lieutenant. At no point since the May 10, 2022, shooting has the Illinois State Police, the Romeoville Police Department or the Will County Sheriff's Office released a statement or conducted a press interview answering why Allen fatally shot Walker.

Last week, Joliet Patch broke a major exclusive story, revealing that Evanston attorney Ian Barney filed a federal civil rights wrongful death lawsuit against Allen and Kelley.

Barney's lawsuit against Allen informs the federal judge that "Mr. Walker was not in possession of a firearm at the time he was shot by Deputy John Allen. Deputy John Allen shot Mr. Walker despite that Mr. Walker was unarmed and posed no threat to any other person."

The lawsuit also states: "Mr. Walker put his hands up and approached the main front exit of the bank ... Mr. Walker’s hands were raised in the air, demonstrating that he was not in possession of any weapon. At this time, Deputy John Allen discharged his firearm, striking Mr. Walker in the chest with a bullet."

In the aftermath of Tuesday's Illinois State Police FOIA rejection of the bank surveillance video, Joliet Patch conducted a question and answer interview with Barney, the lawyer for Walker's surviving sister, who lives in Florida.

Here is that interview:

Question 1 Joliet Patch: What is your reaction to the fact that after 10 months, the Illinois State Police are still refusing to release to the press the bank video surveillance and body cam video showing Lt. John Allen fatally shoot Mr. Walker?

Attorney Barney: "This is a matter of great public importance. The video should have been released months ago, if not immediately. At the very least, the Illinois State Police should have provided the family an opportunity to view the video in private. To date, neither the family nor the public have been afforded the transparency that is deserved and necessary to keep the public's confidence."

Question 2 Joliet Patch: Why do you think the Illinois State Police are choosing to fight any and all attempts to release the bank videos of Lt. Allen shooting Mr. Walker at this stage?

Barney: "It is hard for me to speculate as to why the Illinois State Police and the Will County State's Attorney's Office feel the need to keep the video from the family and the public for so long. I understand that they are completing a review of the unjustified killing of Mr. Walker, but, in my judgment, there is no need to prevent the public and the family from knowing the truth of what happened. Fortunately, we will be able to gain access to the video through discovery in the wrongful death lawsuit."

Question 3 Joliet Patch: Could race or fear of racial demonstrations against police be a factor in why the Illinois State Police do not want this shooting video made public still?

Barney: "As our lawsuit alleges, Mr. Walker was a Black man shot dead a white officer without any justification. We believe the video will clearly prove this. I cannot speculate as to whether any party's refusal to share the video is motivated by fear of what will happen once it is released, but I do know that the public deserves to know the truth and every responsible party in this matter must be held accountable."

Question 4 Joliet Patch: In other communities and cities where police shootings happen, is the video evidence immediately available?

Barney: "There is a clear national trend towards releasing videos of police shootings as soon as is practicable. Will County is clearly behind the curve when it comes to transparency in police involved shootings. The policy of keeping these types of videos from the public for months on end is wrong, and the public should demand it be changed."

Question 5 Joliet Patch: What do you think it will ultimately take for the public and press to gain access to this bank shooting video to see firsthand what really happened? Do you think the Will County State's Attorney's Office should intervene and strongly urge the Illinois State Police to release the video?

Barney: "I think it will take the Will County State's Attorney's Office releasing the video itself. And I think it should do that immediately."

Question 6 Joliet Patch: Illinois State Police initially treated Kathleen Savio's murder by former Bolingbrook Police Sgt. Drew Peterson as a bathtub accident. Should the public trust Illinois State Police right now to still do a thorough criminal investigation of Will County Sheriff's Lt. Allen here?

Barney: "I can't speak to the Drew Peterson saga. All I can say is that I am hopeful that the Illinois State Police and the Will County State's Attorney's Office have conducted a fair and impartial investigation, driven solely by the facts and the law. That's what the public deserves and that's what Mr. Walker's family deserves."

Question 7 Joliet Patch: Does publicly releasing the bank videos harm Lt. Allen's right to a fair and impartial trial of jurors, either civilly or criminally?

Barney: "I don't believe so. There are more than enough safeguard in place to ensure that those accused of crimes or other wrongdoing receive a fair trial, whether in civil proceedings or criminal proceedings. If this investigation did not involve a police officer, I believe the video would have been released months ago."

Question 8 Joliet Patch: Last one. Do you think other major news organizations such as The Washington Post, USA Today and The New York Times should take a keen interest in this particular police shooting? If so, why do you feel Mr. Walker's case is of national public interest?

Barney: "I think the shooting of Mr. Walker is part of the larger national conversation about race and policing. Based on what we believe the video will show, I would not be surprised if there is significant public interest in this case once the video is released."

Related Patch coverage:

Will Co. Sheriff's Sniper Killed Man, 65, Who Surrendered: Lawsuit