Suspect in Death of Wayne County Deputy in Custody

(WAYNE COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPUTY SEAN RILEY)

Authorities have a suspect in custody in connection with a fatal shooting of a Wayne County sheriff's deputy early Wednesday morning.

Dead is Wayne County Sheriff's Deputy Sean Riley. Reports are that Deputy Riley answered a motorist assist and was shot, resulting his death around 5am Wednesday along I-64.

Radio Station WFIW in Fairfield reports...

The Deputy’s squad car was missing and then located abandoned a short time later just east of the scene. It is believed that the suspect, Ray Tate, a 40-year-old male from Hopkinsville, KY carjacked a truck tractor semi-trailer near the area Deputy Riley’s squad car was located. The driver of the truck tractor semi-trailer was held against his will and drove Tate to a gas station in St Peter’s, Missouri. While in Missouri, a series of carjackings, robberies and shootings occurred. Tate then traveled back into Illinois with a kidnapped victim in another stolen vehicle. That stolen vehicle was located at a residence in rural Carlyle. Tate is accused of committing a home invasion and reportedly took the homeowner and the kidnapped victim hostage at a residence in rural Clinton County. At approximately 1:42 p.m. ISP Special Weapons and Tactics (S.W.A.T.) operators were able to make entry into the residence and took the suspect into custody without incident. The homeowner and kidnapped victim were located in the residence uninjured. Tate was then transported to the Clinton County Jail where he is being charged with First Degree Murder by the Wayne County State’s Attorney.The Illinois State Police was assisted by multiple agencies in southern Illinois and eastern Missouri that worked together to conclude the incident.

(RAY TATE)

The streets of Fairfield were lined with people Wednesday afternoon as Wayne County citizens waited to honor Wayne County Sheriff’s Deputy Sean Riley as his body was returned to Fairfield.  The body of Deputy Riley was taken to the Vanderburgh County Coroner’s Office in Evansville, IN around 10 am accompanied by area law enforcement agencies and returned home to Fairfield shortly before 4 pm.  The body was escorted by at least 40 law enforcement vehicles from around the area.  Fairfield Mayor Mike Dreith has ordered all flags under city control to fall to half-staff due to the tragedy. Riley was taken to the Johnson and Vaughn funeral home in Fairfield.