The Fox Lake lockdown continues in Illinois, and the small town is under siege as police continues their massive manhunt for the three suspects who killed a police officer on Tuesday.
The community is still in shock after the brutal slaying of 52-year-old Lt. Charles Joseph Gliniewicz, a married father of four young boys, according to NBC News . A 30-year-old veteran, officer Gliniewicz reported suspicious activity at around 8 a.m. central time Tuesday, police said.
Officer Gliniewicz requested back-up and was reportedly chasing the suspects — who allegedly are two white males and one black male — when he was shot. Police responding to the call found the veteran officer’s body in marshy area nearby and all his weapons gone.
On Wednesday, the police continue to search the surrounding areas as the Fox Lake lockdown remains in place to keep the public safe.
Lake County Sheriff’s Office spokesman, Detective Christopher Covelli, said late Tuesday the initial search included a two-square-mile area and lasted 14-hours. As the Fox Lake lockdown continues, a task force has taken over the search for the three suspects, which continued overnight.
Unfortunately, authorities don’t seem to be any closer to finding the three suspects responsible for the death of Lt. Glieniewicz, who is being mourned by his family and the community of which he was part of. By all accounts, those who knew the 52-year-old have nothing but praise for the fallen officer.
The small northern Illinois town remains on edge as helicopters hover overhead and the intense manhunt continues. The Fox Lake lockdown means several area schools have cancelled classes Wednesday, according to ABC7 .
Many police officers from surrounding areas have come into the small village, which is located 60 miles north of Chicago. Police warned residents to stay indoors as an impressive force made up of local police, federal agents — including the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the FBI — were also involved in the hunt for the suspects, along with more than 45 dogs.
“We’re looking for suspicious activity, we’re looking for the offenders and we want to let the Fox Lake community to know they’re safe and we’re keeping an eye out for them as well,” Covelli told reporters Wednesday morning.
Fox Lake Mayor Donny Schmit referred to Lt. Gliniewicz as a friend and mourned the tragic loss Tuesday.
“Today, not only did Fox Lake lose a family member — I lost a really dear friend.”
“Residents in here knew him as G.I. Joe, and remember him as someone deeply committed to Fox Lake.”
Stay tuned for more news on the Fox Lake lockdown and the manhunt for officer Gliniewicz’s killers.
[Photo by Scott Olson / Getty Images, Lake County Sheriff’s Office]
