On Monday, April 18, 2022, at approximately 9:04 a.m., a 911 call was received by the Whiteside County Sheriff’s Office, reporting shots fired with a possible victim in the 20000 block of Hickory Hills Road, Sterling, IL. It was further reported that the suspect, a 16-year-old family member, had fled the residence on foot while armed with a shotgun.
The victim, 84-year-old Jaime P. Garcia, was located inside the residence by responding Deputies; he was deceased from an apparent gunshot wound. An autopsy is scheduled for Tuesday, April 19, in Rockford, IL.
At approximately 9:34 a.m. the juvenile suspect was taken into custody in the 20000 block of Ridge Road. A shotgun was subsequently recovered along the suspected flight path taken by the juvenile offender. The juvenile was detained at Mary Davis Juvenile Detention Center, pending further court proceedings.
The Whiteside County Sheriff’s Office was assisted at the scene by Illinois State Police, Illinois Department of Conservation Police, Sterling Police Department, Rock Falls, and Milledgeville Fire Departments, CGH EMS, the Whiteside County Coroners Office, and Whiteside County State’s Attorney Office.
Anyone with information related to this investigation is asked to call the Whiteside County Sheriffs Office at 815-772-4044 or Whiteside County Crime Stoppers at 815-625-7867.