WAYNE COUNTY, Ill. — A deputy with the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office was laid to rest Tuesday morning.
Sean Riley was shot and killed in the line of duty in the early morning hours on Wednesday, Dec. 29. The Wayne County state’s attorney charged 40-year-old Ray Tate, of Kentucky, with first-degree murder in connection to Riley’s death.
Tate also is suspected in a carjacking and shooting at a QuikTrip in St. Peters, Missouri, that same morning. A sheriff’s office in Indiana was also looking for Tate in connection to an incident on Dec. 16.
Funeral service
The funeral service for Riley was held at 11 a.m. at the Fairfield Community High School gym.
The funeral was open to the public and the gym was packed with people who came to pay their respects to Riley.
During the service, Wayne County Sheriff Chris Otey spoke about Riley’s dedication to the job.
“Sean was not only driven to arrest criminals; he was a servant. I witnessed many times when he would go above and beyond to help someone in need,” he said. “He was a dedicated deputy and you could always count on him. Law enforcement was his passion and his legacy will always be remembered at the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office.”
Watch the full funeral service in the video below:
After the funeral service, a procession traveled to Cisne Family Cemetery for the burial. The public was highly encouraged to line the procession route to honor Riley and show support for his family.
Crime timeline
Illinois State Police said Wednesday's incidents started around 5 a.m. along Interstate 64 in Wayne County. That's where Riley was called to help a driver.
A short time later, a second deputy arrived at the scene to find Riley dead and his squad car missing.
Officers found the squad car, but they said Tate got into a tractor-trailer before they got there and that he had forced the driver at gunpoint to take him to St. Peters. The shooting and carjacking in St. Peters happened at around 7:10 a.m. at 391 Main Street.
O’Fallon, Missouri, police spotted Tate in another vehicle, a white Nissan pickup truck. Illinois State Police said he stole it and kidnapped the person inside. ISP said he drove to rural Carlyle, Illinois, where he forced his way into a home and held the kidnapped victim and homeowner against their will.
Officers were able to take Tate into custody without further incident. Tate is being held on a first-degree murder charge at Wayne County Jail.
