WINNEBAGO COUNTY, IL — As hearts broke Thursday night and the darkness outside was symbolic of the events that occurred just hours earlier in Rockford, community members and the lights of law enforcement vehicles lined the county’s streets at 8 p.m. as authorities escorted their fallen teammate, McHenry County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Jacob Keltner, 35, from Mercyhealth Javon Bea Hospital – Riverside to the Winnebago County Coroner’s Office. Keltner was pronounced dead at 3:30 p.m. Thursday, nearly six hours after he was shot while attempting to serve an arrest warrant with the U.S. Marshals Great Lakes Regional Fugitive Task Force at Extended Stay America in the 700 block of North Bell School Road.
The thoughts of Thursday night’s frigid temperatures, places to be, bedtimes, and other evening tasks were most likely not on the minds of those who the McHenry County Sheriff’s Office said lined the streets, waved flags, or stepped outside their cars or businesses to honor Keltner.
In a Facebook post, the McHenry County Sheriff’s Office described what they saw during Thursday night’s procession:
(Photo credit: McHenry County Sheriff’s Department Facebook)
“As this horrible unimaginable day draws to an end we would like to take a moment to say this:
As we escorted our fallen officer, Deputy Jacob Keltner, to the Winnebago County Coroners Office tonight we saw you.
We saw the groups standing out in the cold with their blue line and American flags waving.
We saw the men, women, and children standing at attention.
We saw the people who stopped in traffic and got out of their cars with their hands over their hearts.
We saw the businesses who let their employees stand outside to pay their respects.
We saw the car dealerships with all the cars in their lots, lights flashing.
We saw the respect paid by the hospital staff, the EMS, and firefighters.
We saw all the agencies that came to show their support and join in our procession.
We saw you tonight and we want to thank you for your support.”
As of Friday morning, March 8, the post has been shared over 4,500 times, and includes hundreds of comments and nearly 5,000 “Likes.” Among the comments was one from a community member who wrote, “It is all of us who should be thanking you. Being a part of tonight’s procession was the least any of us could do. I am moved that you recognized all of us. “
RELATED: ‘Loved And Respected’ Deputy Dies After Rockford Shooting
McHenry County Sheriff Bill Prim said during a Thursday press conference with the Rockford Police Department that Keltner left behind a wife and two young children.
Accused gunman Floyd E. Brown, 39, of Springfield, is being charged with first-degree murder in Keltner’s death, after Rockford police and officials from the Winnebago County State’s Attorney’s Office report Brown, who was wanted on several warrants, shot through a door at the Rockford hotel, hitting Keltner.
Keltner is Illinois’ second law enforcement officer killed in the line of duty this year.
Illinois State Trooper Christopher Lambert lost his life after he was struck by a car while helping victims of a crash on I-294 on Jan. 12.
So far in 2019, there have been 23 law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty across the U.S.