Illinois State Police Investigating Officer Involved Shooting in Ottawa
July 5, 2026
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
JULY 5, 2026
OTTAWA – The LaSalle County Sheriff’s Office requested the Illinois State Police (ISP) Division of Criminal Investigation Zone 1 to investigate an officer involved shooting.
On July 4, 2026, at approximately 12:43 p.m., LaSalle County deputies observed a vehicle known to belong to a person with an active arrest warrant. Deputies attempted to stop the vehicle, but the driver fled. The driver pulled into his driveway in the 2200 block of E. 13th Road in Ottawa and tried to evade the deputies. The driver, later identified as 49-year-old Jacob Williamson of Ottawa, IL, got out of the vehicle with a firearm and fired at the deputies. The deputies returned fire, striking Williamson. The deputies rendered aid, but Williamson was pronounced deceased on scene. Neither deputy was injured.
This is an active investigation and no additional information is available at this time. Once the investigation is complete, the case will be turned over to the LaSalle County State’s Attorney’s Office for review.
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