Three Illinois sheriff's deputies were shot and a suspect wounded in a SWAT incident Wednesday near Dixon.
The Ogle County Sheriff's Department confirmed it was called to a home just before 9 a.m. in the 400 block of Wild Rice Lane after a family remember expressed concern for a resident living at the address.
"This individual had threatened not only suicide, but homicide," Ogle County Sheriff Brian VanVickle said.
A SWAT team was activated at the scene shortly after officers arrived, but after hours of failed attempts and over 50 unanswered calls to the resident inside, deputies in an "emergency response team" entered the home, VanVickle said.
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That's when gunfire erupted.
"Immediately upon entering the house, deputies received fire," VanVickle told reporters shortly after the incident unfolded.
Three deputies were shot along with a suspect inside the home. All were transported to area hospitals, with medical helicopters and ambulances called to the scene.
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According to the Ogle County Sheriff's Office, one officer was shot in the armor, one officer was shot in the upper arm and another officer was struck in the face.
Two officers were hospitalized, treated and later released, while the other officer was flown to OSF St. Anthony's Hospital in Rockford and underwent surgery this evening.
The suspect, Jonathan G. Gounaris, was located inside with multiple firearms, a fixed-blade knife, pepper spray, and ballistic armor. He was later taken to a local hospital where he underwent surgery.
A heavy police presence was reported in the area where the incident occurred. Authorities noted that officers and first responders from surrounding towns, counties and from Illinois State Police were all at the scene.
The incident remains under investigation by Illinois State Police.
