Macomb shooting suspect appears in court; names of wounded police officers released

MACOMB, Ill. — The suspect in the shooting of two officers with the Macomb Police Department Wednesday night made his first appearance Friday afternoon in McDonough County Circuit Court.

Shaiking M. Mathis, 38, of Macomb appeared by video and was denied pretrial release during his hearing. He remains lodged in the McDonough County Jail.

After a 20-hour standoff beginning Wednesday night, Mathis was taken into custody at 2:10 p.m. Thursday and taken to McDonough County Jail. He has been charged with:

• two counts of aggravated battery to a police officer, a Class 2 felony;
• two counts of aggravated battery/discharge of a firearm at a peace officer, a Class X felony;
• and one count of aggravated discharge of a firearm at a peace officer, a Class X felony.

Jeff Hamer, chief of the Macomb Police Department, released the names of the injured officers in a Friday press release.

Det. Nick Severs, an 8-year veteran of the Macomb Police Department, suffered a gunshot wound to his hip. He was treated and released. Severs is a former canine handler and Macomb’s Officer of the Year in 2019.

Sgt. J.P. McLaughlin was struck by gunfire in the upper left leg. He also was treated and released. McLaughlin, a 17-year veteran officer and former detective, recently was promoted to sergeant in patrol. He was a former school resource officer at Macomb High School.

Severs and McLaughlin arrived at 309 N. Normal at approximately 6:59 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 4, where an alleged criminal sexual assault occurred earlier in the day. They were there to attempt to interview Mathis, the primary suspect in that investigation. Detectives knocked on doors at the residence to contact Mathis, but no one responded. No one was seen, or heard from, inside.

Detectives had previously obtained a search warrant for the residence and called for more officers to execute the warrant due to no one answering the door. A perimeter was set around the residence. A team of officers began knocking and announcing their presence, saying they had a search warrant for the residence. No one could be seen or heard from inside the residence by the officers while announcements were being made. Several announcements were made on each of the doors to the home.

A team of officers breached the rear door at 7:05 p.m. and instantly were met with gunfire from inside the residence. Severs and McLaughlin were hit. Other officers returned fire, retreated from the residence and began administering medical aid to the wounded officers, who were transported to McDonough District Hospital.

A larger perimeter was established utilizing resources from McDonough County Sheriff’s Department, Illinois State Police, Knox County Sheriff’s Department, Galesburg Police Department, Fulton County Sheriff’s Office, Hancock County Sheriff’s Department and the FBI.

McDonough County State’s Attorney Matt Kwacala and Henderson County State’s Attorney Susan Maxwell assisted with this investigation.

The Illinois State Police will investigate Mathis’ alleged shooting at police officers and associated crimes. The Macomb Police Department will continue to investigate the alleged criminal sexual assault.