BOND CO., Ill. - A multi-jurisdictional pursuit for a suspect wanted in connection with a shooting and alleged kidnapping ends in an officer-involved shooting in Bond County, Illinois, said Illinois State Police officials.
ISP said that yesterday (Tuesday, February 12, 2019) at approximately 9:34 P.M., a Missouri law enforcement agency pursuit crossed into Illinois on the Poplar Street Bridge where Illinois State Police Trooper’s assumed responsibility. The pursuit was initiated by the Jefferson City, Missouri Police Department for an alleged kidnapping and a prior shooting in Missouri. At approximately 10:32 P.M., deputies from the Bond County Sheriff’s Department deployed stop sticks on Illinois Route 140 near Mettler Road.
Because the vehicle had slowed considerably after striking the stop sticks, this gave the alleged kidnapping victims, Danielle L. Smith, 33, of Jefferson City, Missouri and a 10-year-old female juvenile, also of Jefferson City, an opportunity to escape the vehicle on Illinois Route 140 shortly thereafter. Smith was found to have sustained multiple gunshot wounds and was transported via ambulance to a medical care facility.
The suspect, Leslie K. Austin, 39 of Jefferson City, continued fleeing east on Illinois Route 140 and attempted to car jack a vehicle near Shoal Creek where he shot and killed the driver, Gregory Price, 77 of Florissant, Missouri.
At this point, officers were still unsure if there were additional victims from the Missouri incident in the vehicle. Moments later, Austin attempted to car jack a second vehicle with no success. Austin continued to flee from this scene onto Terrapin Ridge Road, then west onto Old Nebo Road. Austin then exited the Mitsubishi and continued to fire shots. An Illinois State Police Trooper returned fire. Austin was ultimately found to be deceased. At this time, it is unknown if the suspect died from the Trooper’s return fire or a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
The investigation is ongoing and autopsies will be conducted. No further information will be released at this time.