Granite City was on edge Friday evening as police fanned out across a neighborhood, hunting for a gunman who allegedly opened fire on an officer responding to a call about an unwanted subject on Johnson Road. The officer was shot multiple times and rushed to a St. Louis hospital, where officials said he was awake, talking, and expected to make a full recovery. Investigators released photos of the suspected shooter and warned that he should be considered armed and dangerous as the manhunt stretched into the night.
What officials are saying
Granite City Police Chief Gary Brooks told reporters that officers arrived at the scene and were met with gunfire almost immediately, with the shooting reported at about 2:19 p.m. Friday, according to NBC Chicago. Brooks said he spoke with the injured officer before a 5 p.m. news conference and that the department remained optimistic about a full recovery. Police set up a perimeter around the area and brought in K9 units along with aerial support as the search ramped up.
Suspect and manhunt
Illinois State Police told local outlets they believe the shooter is 26-year-old DJ Marshall of Granite City, and that state troopers are working alongside Granite City police, the Madison County Sheriff’s Office, and the FBI, as reported by WIFR. Investigators released still images of a person of interest described as a white man with dark hair wearing a dark jacket, and local reporting noted that officers later recovered a jacket, hat, and bag believed to belong to the suspect. Authorities repeatedly urged residents not to confront the individual if they see him and to call 911 immediately instead, Riverbender reported.
Schools and neighborhood precautions
The shooting unfolded in the Johnson Road area near the Pizza World parking lot, and several nearby businesses shut their doors early as a heavy police presence flooded the scene, according to local reports. Frohardt Elementary delayed its normal dismissal and released students only to parents who presented valid identification under the watch of police, the school district said in a statement to Spectrum News. The district also called off a scheduled holiday performance at Granite City High School while authorities worked to secure the surrounding area.
How residents can help
Officials circulated photos of the person of interest and asked anyone with information, surveillance video or other tips to contact law enforcement and to call 911 rather than attempt any kind of approach, local stations reported. Neighbors described helicopters overhead and K9 teams moving through streets and yards as officers went door to door, a scene that captured the scale of the multi-agency response highlighted by the Metro East Star. Authorities said they plan to release more details as both the investigation and the search continue.
