A Madison County man faces murder charges in the death of a Knox County Sheriff’s deputy who was killed near Alpha Friday morning during a car chase.
Daylon K. Richardson, 22, of Granite City, was apprehended on foot after his vehicle struck the deputy, who was setting spike strips in the road.
At a press conference Friday evening at Galesburg City Hall, Henry County State’s Attorney Catherine Runty announced the initial criminal charges for Richardson.
Runty said she was in constant communication on Friday with Illinois State Police and a task force assigned to investigate the case.
“Based on the information I have learned from them, as well as my observations at the scene, and the video I have been able to review at this point, Mr. Richardson has been charged with two counts of murder,” Runty said.
Richardson also faces charges of unlawful possession of a weapon by a felon and aggravated fleeing and eluding.
The chase started in Galesburg around 8 a.m. with a report of a man with a gun at Circle K, 877 E. Main St.
Galesburg police officers located the suspect’s vehicle and attempted a traffic stop, but the suspect fled north on U.S. Route 150.
The vehicle continued north out of the Galesburg city limits and eventually into Henry County.
The deputy was struck and killed at U.S. Route 150 and 150th Avenue, which is just south of Illinois Route 17 near Alpha.
Richardson had active warrants in southern Illinois for unlawful possession of a weapon by a felon, aggravated fleeing and eluding, and mob action, according to Illinois State Police.
Investigators continue to collect and process evidence from Friday's events.
Additional charges could be pending in Henry and Knox counties.
Knox County State’s Attorney Jeremy Karlin said there is evidence Richardson fired a weapon in Knox County from his vehicle during the pursuit.
Knox County Sheriff David Clague offered condolences to the family of the fallen deputy.
The name of the deputy has not been released.
Clague also extended gratitude to the multiple agencies who responded and assisted with the investigation — and to the men and women of the Knox County Sheriff’s Department.
“We are deeply saddened by this,” Clague said. “We are saddened. Not only as a small group here, but the communities. Our communities should be very deeply saddened by this.”
Richardson is being held in the Henry County jail without bond.
A preliminary hearing is set for May 9.
