Fox Lake Shooting: Police Slam Coroner For Release Of Information About Officer’s Death

Police investigating the Fox Lake shooting death of 30-year veteran Lt. Charles Joseph Gliniewicz slammed the Coroner office’s decision to release information about the murder.

After more than a week of an intense manhunt for three unidentified suspects, the task force leader in charge of the Fox Lake shooting investigation criticized a local coroner. They say he’s jeopardized their investigation by publicly discussing details of the officer’s wounds after he announced that he could not yet rule the death a homicide, suicide, or accident, according to the Associated Press.

On September 1, officer Gliniewicz informed dispatch he was involved in a foot pursuit of three subjects, which he described as two white males and one black male. When another unit arrived at the Fox Lake shooting scene, where they found the officer dead, about 50 yards away from his patrol car, with a gunshot wound. He died shortly after.

The Fox Lake shooting shattered the normally peaceful village, which is a popular vacation destination with many seasonal homes. The town is located about 45 miles from Chicago, and many people travel the relatively short distance to get away from the big city.

Officer Gliniewicz was a well-respected member of the community and was involved with many causes. The Fox Lake shooting death of the officer brought thousands, including police from neighboring areas to his funeral last weekend. Gliniewicz was married and the father of two boys.

Authorities seem to be no closer to catching the suspects in the Fox Lake shooting. However, the Lake County Sheriff’s Office now says several shots were fired, but they won’t say by whom or whether officer Gliniewicz fired any before he was hit, stating the information is critical to the investigation.

According to the report, officials leading the investigation, who have provided few details about the Fox Lake shooting, are criticizing Lake County Coroner Dr. Thomas Rudd for releasing details.

Rudd told the Chicago Tribune Gliniewicz was shot in the torso. Additionally, the day before, Rudd told several media outlets Gliniewicz died of to a single “devastating” gunshot wound.

“Dr. Rudd, releasing information which is sensitive to this investigation, puts the entire case at risk. All of the progress made since this tragic incident is potentially in jeopardy,” Lake County Major Crime Task Force Cmdr. George Filenko said on a written statement Thursday.

Undersheriff Raymond Rose said, “Dr. Rudd’s actions are completely outside of policy, procedure, protocols, and are completely unprofessional.”

There has been no comment from Rudd, but the investigation on the Fox Lake shooting continues with the help from several federal agencies.

[Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images]