Illinois – An Illinois deputy shot during a traffic stop in Peoria is recovering after being struck during a foot pursuit late Saturday, according to police. Investigators say the suspect, identified as 51-year-old Larry D. Bell, has been arrested and is facing an attempted murder charge.
Peoria Police said Peoria County Sheriff’s Office deputies conducted a traffic stop at about 9:52 p.m. Saturday in the 1000 block of South Western Avenue. As deputies approached the vehicle, police said a passenger got out and ran.
According to a Peoria Police Department press release, during the ensuing foot pursuit, the fleeing suspect fired multiple shots at a deputy and struck the deputy twice. The injured deputy was taken to a local hospital and treated for serious injuries.
Police said officers located the suspect about two hours later inside an abandoned building in the 1800 block of West Garden Street. Peoria Police identified the suspect as Larry D. Bell, 51, and said he was taken for medical treatment after experiencing seizures during the arrest attempt.
Officers found illegal drugs on Bell while he was at the hospital. Police also said investigators obtained a search warrant for the abandoned building and recovered a handgun.
After Bell was released from the hospital, police said he was taken into custody and transported to the Peoria County Jail. The Peoria Police Department listed multiple charges, including attempted murder, aggravated battery with a firearm, armed violence, unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon, and drug-related charges, along with three Peoria County warrants for failure to appear in drug cases.
Peoria County Sheriff Chris Watkins said the deputy underwent surgery for multiple gunshot wounds and was in stable condition, adding that the deputy “faces a long recovery.” Watkins did not release the deputy’s name.
Field Lessons are offered strictly as general, industry-standard reminders drawn from common safety practices and typical policy considerations. They are not based on any inside knowledge of this specific incident, do not presume what actions were taken, and should not be interpreted as commentary on the decisions made at the scene.
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Build a clean transition plan from stop to foot pursuit: who gives commands, who trails, who covers, who calls location updates.
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Treat sudden passenger exits as an immediate threat cue and create distance and angles before closing space.
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Research shows specific behavioral cues indicative of violence in foot pursuits. Watch for the suspect’s hands to disappear in front of their body while running; one arm may be swinging while the other is tight to the body, and target glances from the suspect while running. One or all of these behaviors may be present just prior to violence. These behaviors can manifest quickly, and this is why pursuing with a Taser in hand is not recommended.
Dr. Travis Yates has pioneered a behavioral risk framework to help officers and leaders identify, assess, and articulate risk in rapidly evolving, uncertain situations. Find out more about the FOCUS Behavioral Risk Framework.
