Billy L. Walker Jr., 53, of Hillsboro died late Saturday afternoon (March 16) when he was shot by an Illinois State Police trooper after exchanging gunfire with officers. The gunfire followed a pursuit that began in Glen Carbon, Ill., and ended in Staunton, Ill., the Illinois State Police reported.
Walker allegedly stole a vehicle in an armed carjacking at the Sam’s Club in Glen Carbon, and he allegedly shot a gun during the incident.
The Glen Carbon Police Department contacted Illinois State Police about the carjacking, and an Illinois state trooper responding to the area located the suspect vehicle traveling north on I-55. The trooper attempted to stop Walker, who drove into Staunton before returning to I-55, the report said.
Members of the Staunton Police Department joined in the pursuit when the vehicle Walker was driving ran off the road and got stuck in the median near the intersection of Staunton Road and I-55, according to the report.
Walker got out of the vehicle and ran away, and the trooper followed him on foot. Walker allegedly brandished a handgun and shot at the trooper. The trooper returned fire, striking and killing Walker, the report said.
He was pronounced dead at 4:45 p.m. by the Macoupin County coroner, state police reported.
At the time of the shooting, Walker did not have identification with him. A handgun was recovered at the scene, the report said.
The trooper suffered gunshot wounds during the exchange and was taken to an area hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The trooper is 36 years old and an 11-year veteran of the Illinois State Police, according to the report.
The trooper is recovering and is expected to be able to return to duty, state police reported.
Walker was wanted on a warrant for a probation violation stemming from weapons offenses, according to state police.
A full investigation of the incident has been launched by the Illinois State Police Division of Internal Investigation, state police reported.