Officer-involved shooting suspect dies
UPDATE, 3:37 p.m., May 21: The man who was shot was identified Tuesday as 80-year-old Eugene Mewes of 48th Avenue, East Moline.
He was pronounced deceased at 11:35 p.m. on May 20th, 2024. An autopsy on Mewes demonstrated that he suffered multiple gunshot wounds and had injuries that were not compatible with life.
By state statute, the case remains under investigation by the Illinois State Police.
EARLIER: The 80-year-old man who was shot by police May 17 in East Moline died overnight.
The man passed away at a hospital in Peoria and an autopsy is scheduled for this morning, according to a Tuesday release by Moline Police Chief Darren Gault of the Rock Island County Task Force. The Peoria County Coroner plans to release the identity of the person sometime later today, he said.
In accordance with state law, the coroner has jurisdiction over the name of the deceased. The Rock Island County Integrity Task Force is still investigating this incident. No other updates are available at this time.
At approximately 2:17 p.m. on May 17, 2024, the East Moline Police Department responded to Hometown Harbor Apartment Complex at 1011 49th Ave., East Moline for a person with a gun call. As previously reported, an officer-involved shooting occurred with the suspect in the incident.
The suspect, 80, had fired a handgun. The incident occurred outside and the caller updated 911 saying the man headed west down 49th Avenue and was near the community room on 10th Street. Two East Moline Police officers arrived at 2:24 p.m. and encountered the man, who was armed with a handgun.
A confrontation occurred and “one or more officers discharged their firearm,” according to a task force release. Officers administered first aid and EMS was dispatched. EMS arrived at 2:30 p.m. The man, who was in a motorized wheelchair, was taken to a hospital with life-threatening injuries. His firearm was recovered at the scene.
East Moline Police Chief Jeff Ramsey immediately requested the Rock Island County Integrity Task Force (RICITF) to respond. State law requires an outside agency or task force to investigate an officer-involved shooting.
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