ALTON, Ill. — Illinois State Police on Friday released the name of the suspect killed in a shootout in Alton that also left a police K-9 dead and an officer injured.
Vernon Randle Jr., 27, of Alton, was killed Thursday at about 6 a.m. near the intersection of Liberty and East 6th streets in Alton.
Also injured in the shootout was Alton police Officer Allen Averbeck, who police said was saved from serious injury by his body armor. He was released from the hospital Thursday and is recovering at home.
Averbeck's K-9 partner, Odin, was rushed to Hawthorne Animal Hospital in Glen Carbon, where he later died.
"While we mourn his loss, I also want to highlight that K-9 Odin performed courageously and sacrificed his life to save the lives of his fellow officers," Alton police Chief Jarrett Ford said in a statement posted to the department's Facebook page. "There is no higher act of love and sacrifice than to give one's life to save others."
The Alton Police Department on Friday thanked the community for the outpouring of support.
The post also acknowledged that another shooting happened in the same area just hours prior to Thursday morning's shootout. Police have yet to confirm if there was a connection between the two shootings, but said the woman injured in the prior shooting was recovering from her injuries.
"Please keep her in your thoughts and prayers. The suspect's family is also dealing with the loss of their loved one so they are in my thoughts as well," Ford wrote.
Police had not publicly released the circumstances of what led to the shooting as of Friday.
On Friday morning, flags half were at half-staff and a small memorial of flowers for K-9 Odin sat in front of the Alton Police Department.
Alton police say many people have reached out with questions about how to donate to their K-9 program. There are only two ways to officially donate to the program.
The first way is by check made payable to the Alton Police Department K-9 Program.
The second way to donate is through Mustache March 4 PD (MM4PD) via their Venmo (@MM4PD) and Paypal (@MM4PD) accounts and provide them to the K9 program.
All donations go towards funding the various expenses associated with the K9 program such as purchasing a new dog, vests and training.
