What started as a routine stolen-vehicle investigation on Jan. 4 in East St. Louis ended with a state trooper firing into an SUV and the driver, 40-year-old Rachel E. Tarrence of Maryville, dying at a hospital. On Friday, Illinois State Police released a stitched-together video that shows the encounter from multiple angles as the agency continues its investigation.
What the video shows
The 8-minute, 41-second video compiles four different views, including squad car dashcams, body-worn cameras and liquor-store surveillance. It records officers giving repeated verbal commands before gunfire is heard, according to the Belleville News-Democrat. The outlet reports that the store footage appears to show a trooper carrying a small child from the back seat of the vehicle after the shooting and that multiple rounds can be heard on the recording.
How the stop unfolded
In a Jan. 5 news release, Illinois State Police said troopers were investigating a report of a stolen vehicle shortly after 10 p.m. in the 4500 block of South State Street when they tried to pull over the Chevrolet Equinox Tarrence was driving. According to the agency, Tarrence put the SUV in reverse and struck an ISP squad car, then drove toward a trooper. One trooper discharged his firearm, hitting the driver, the release states.
Timeline and immediate aftermath
Police estimate roughly eight seconds passed between the squad car being struck and the trooper firing his weapon. Troopers immediately provided medical aid at the scene before Tarrence was taken to a hospital, where she was pronounced dead. As reported by KMOV, the trooper who fired has been placed on administrative leave, and ISP says it is reviewing whether any policy or training violations occurred.
Store footage and family reaction
Store manager Said Mohamed told the Belleville News-Democrat he heard "three or four" gunshots while watching the incident unfold on his security monitor. He said his surveillance video shows a trooper removing a child from the back seat after the shooting.
Troy E. Walton, the attorney representing Tarrence's family, told the paper the video shows the trooper "was not in danger" and that officers "did not take steps to deescalate" the encounter. The News-Democrat also reported it filed a public records request the day after the shooting, which ISP denied on the grounds that the investigation was still active.
Legal review and what comes next
The Illinois State Police Division of Internal Investigation is handling the case and has said it will submit its findings and all related evidence to the St. Clair County state's attorney for review. The administrative leave and internal review are standard procedure in officer-involved shootings, but Walton has indicated the family may pursue additional action depending on how the prosecutor responds.
Where to watch the footage
Illinois State Police have posted the full multi-angle video online, and news outlets have linked to the footage with warnings about its graphic content, according to KMOV. As the investigation moves forward, local officials and the family's legal team say they are continuing to scrutinize the recordings and press for further answers.
