Macomb, IL – Illinois State Police (ISP) disclosed findings from body camera footage concerning a tragic incident on Saturday, where a child was used as a human shield during a police-involved shooting in Macomb.
According to Illinois State Police reports the incident unfolded around 10 p.m. in the 900 block of N. Charles St., as officers responded to reports of an active domestic disturbance.
The ISP’s preliminary investigation, prompted by a request from the Macomb Police Department for an impartial inquiry, unearthed harrowing details of the confrontation. Officers encountered 57-year-old Anthony T. George armed with a knife. The situation took a dire turn when George, initially disappearing from the officers’ line of sight, emerged holding a 4-year-old child in front of him, with a knife positioned dangerously close to the child’s throat and another knife at the waist.
This critical moment, captured on body-worn cameras, ended tragically as an officer discharged a firearm, resulting in the fatal injuries of both George and the young child. The McDonough County Coroner confirmed the identities, with George named and the child remaining unnamed, adhering to policies on juvenile privacy.
An investigation into the case is ongoing at this time. State Police have engaged with the bereaved families of both the child and George to communicate findings and next steps. The conclusive report and all related evidence will be submitted to the McDonough County State’s Attorney’s Office for further action.
