Wednesday, April 24, 2013
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A grandmother, a young couple and their two small children, 1 and 5, were found slain in a home in the small town of Manchester, about 50 miles southwest of Springfield, according to police and relatives.
The suspected gunman died after he exchanged gunfire with police during a chase, officials said. Police did not name him, but relatives and neighbors identified him as Rick Smith, 43, who lived in Roodhouse about five miles from Manchester.
The suspected gunman died after he exchanged gunfire with police during a chase, officials said. Police did not name him, but relatives and neighbors identified him as Rick Smith, 43, who lived in Roodhouse about five miles from Manchester.
The slain family members were identified by relatives as: Joanne Sinclair, 65, her granddaughter Brittany Luark, 22, her boyfriend Roy Ralston, Nolan Ralston, 5, and Bradley Ralston, 1.
Another child, Cassidy Ralston, 6, was in serious condition, according to Brad Teeter, Sinclair's son-in-law.
"The guy broke into the house," Teeter said. "I couldn't tell you about the guy, never met him, never seen him, never talked to him. He apparently broke into the home of my wife's mother and shot everybody inside."
"I'm at a loss right now," said Teeter.
State police would not comment on a possible motive. But a neighbor said Smith had been going through a custody battle with the mother of their 4-year-old daughter. The woman is Sinclair's daughter.
"He was under a lot of stress. . .There was a lot of problems with custody with the daughter," the neighbor said.
The neighbor said Smith had lived with the woman at his home until recently. The neighbor said the two had been together for about five years.
The neighbor said Smith worked as a jack of all trades. "He did odd jobs for people, he could fix anything. He was a really hard worker," the neighbor said.
The neighbor said Smith had custody of their daughter fairly often but "I know there was a lot of friction with (her) family."
"He was under a lot of stress. . .There was a lot of problems with custody with the daughter," the neighbor said.
The neighbor said Smith had lived with the woman at his home until recently. The neighbor said the two had been together for about five years.
The neighbor said Smith worked as a jack of all trades. "He did odd jobs for people, he could fix anything. He was a really hard worker," the neighbor said.
The neighbor said Smith had custody of their daughter fairly often but "I know there was a lot of friction with (her) family."
Manchester Mayor Ron Drake, 66, said he was alerted around 4:45 a.m. by a page asking Scott County officials to respond to a multiple shooting.
An all points bulletin was issued for the suspect and he was arrested shortly before 8 a.m. after a brief chase. "From the time they spotted him to the time they stopped was probably 10 minutes on the chase," Drake said.
An all points bulletin was issued for the suspect and he was arrested shortly before 8 a.m. after a brief chase. "From the time they spotted him to the time they stopped was probably 10 minutes on the chase," Drake said.
After he was pulled over, shots were exchanged, according to the state police.
These are the first murders in the town in the 43 years he has lived there. He said 300 people live in the town.
"It's a tragedy," he said. "I've lived here for 43 years and my wife's lived her for all of her life and there's never been a homicide."
"It's a tragedy," he said. "I've lived here for 43 years and my wife's lived her for all of her life and there's never been a homicide."
Illinois State Police responded with local police and SWAT teams overnight, she said. Schools in the area were closed as a precaution.
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