In Bradley, Illinois, a man has been found guilty of first-degree murder and attempted murder for the tragic events that unfolded in 2021. Darius Sullivan, the convicted individual, was involved in the fatal shooting of one police officer and the injuring of another officer. The incident took place as the officers were responding to a complaint regarding dogs barking in a vehicle left unattended in a hotel parking lot.

Bradley Police Sgt. Marlene Rittmanic, aged 49, and officer Tyler Bailey, 27, were shot while attempting to locate the owner of the vehicle causing the disturbance. Tragically, Rittmanic succumbed to her injuries at a hospital following the shooting. She had dedicated 21 years of service to law enforcement.

During a court hearing held in January 2022, a prosecutor revealed that Sullivan utilized his own firearm to shoot Bailey in the head after the officers knocked on the door of the hotel room. Rittmanic was also shot as she tried to escape, only to be pursued down a hallway. It was disclosed that Sullivan’s girlfriend played a role in disarming Rittmanic during the ordeal.

Reports from the prosecutor indicated that Rittmanic was shot while pleading for her life, underscoring the brutal nature of the attack. Sullivan was apprehended at a residence in Indiana just two days after the devastating incident and had initially pleaded not guilty to the charges brought against him.

It’s important to note that Sullivan’s girlfriend was also implicated in the crimes and faces charges of murder and attempted murder. She is set to undergo a separate trial to address her alleged involvement in the tragic events that unfolded in Bradley, a village located approximately 50 miles south of Chicago.

As of now, a sentencing date for Darius Sullivan has yet to be scheduled, leaving the community and the families of the victims awaiting closure and justice for the senseless loss of life that occurred on that fateful day.