Man Shot and Killed By Bloomington Officer after Domestic Dispute
By: Kim Behrens
Updated: March 13, 2013
BLOOMINGTON - A local man is dead after being shot and killed by a police officer early Wednesday morning after an argument at his home.
The McLean County Coroner says 53 year old Stephen Bethea died just before 2:30 at a local hospital.
Now neighbors are on edge, and want answers.
The Aftermath:
Cori Strong is a mother of two, who never thought she'd hear the sound of bullets outside her window.
"The shots, they were like one, two, three," Strong recalls. "I thought I might have just dreamed it, and then I heard about two minutes later, all the sirens."
The incident occurred on Melrose Court, just a few doors down from Strong's home.
Now this young mom is keeping a close watch on her little ones.
"It's really unsettling knowing your neighbor has a gun," Strong remarks.
People nearby say they're shocked.
They didn't know the house in question had problems inside.
"It could happen anywhere, whether it's north, south, east, or the west side, "said Bloomington Police Spokesman Dave White.
Bloomington police responded to the home at 1:30 am.
The caller told them the man who lived there had a gun.
When authorities arrived, that's when he allegedly met them with a revolver.
"Officers are trained that whenever a person is about ready to use deadly force against them than we can use deadly force in return," explained White. "You protect yourself."
While it's still unknown what exactly happened that night, police say if lives are threatened, they must take action.
"I don't want a bullet to stray, so I'm making sure I hit center mass," said White. "That's what our officers are trained to do."
Neighbors just hope, it doesn't happen again.
The case is now in the hands of Illinois State Police.
All parties involved are currently being questioned, and authorities say alcohol did play a factor.
The mental state of the Bloomington officer who shot the suspect will also be analyzed.
The McLean County Coroner says 53 year old Stephen Bethea died just before 2:30 at a local hospital.
Now neighbors are on edge, and want answers.
The Aftermath:
Cori Strong is a mother of two, who never thought she'd hear the sound of bullets outside her window.
"The shots, they were like one, two, three," Strong recalls. "I thought I might have just dreamed it, and then I heard about two minutes later, all the sirens."
The incident occurred on Melrose Court, just a few doors down from Strong's home.
Now this young mom is keeping a close watch on her little ones.
"It's really unsettling knowing your neighbor has a gun," Strong remarks.
People nearby say they're shocked.
They didn't know the house in question had problems inside.
"It could happen anywhere, whether it's north, south, east, or the west side, "said Bloomington Police Spokesman Dave White.
Bloomington police responded to the home at 1:30 am.
The caller told them the man who lived there had a gun.
When authorities arrived, that's when he allegedly met them with a revolver.
"Officers are trained that whenever a person is about ready to use deadly force against them than we can use deadly force in return," explained White. "You protect yourself."
While it's still unknown what exactly happened that night, police say if lives are threatened, they must take action.
"I don't want a bullet to stray, so I'm making sure I hit center mass," said White. "That's what our officers are trained to do."
Neighbors just hope, it doesn't happen again.
The case is now in the hands of Illinois State Police.
All parties involved are currently being questioned, and authorities say alcohol did play a factor.
The mental state of the Bloomington officer who shot the suspect will also be analyzed.
