Jan 2022. Blues Vol 38 No. 1

AROUND THE COUNTRY
FIRST LEO DEATH OF 2022
Wayne County IL. Deputy Killed in
Shooting; Suspect is in Custody.
A suspect in the fatal shooting
of a Wayne County, Illinois deputy,
has been taken into custody.
The Wayne County Sheriff’s
Office (WCSO) says the shooting
happened around 5:00 a.m.
on December 29th when Deputy
Sean Riley was dispatched to a
motorist assist on Interstate 64
near the Illinois-Indiana border.
WCSO says that when another
officer got to the scene, Deputy
Riley was found dead. Deputy Riley’s
squad car was missing from
the scene of the shooting and
found abandoned along I-64.
Around 1:40 p.m., authorities
said that one suspect, later identified
as 40-year-old Ray Tate of
Hopkinsville, Kentucky, had been
taken into custody in connection
to the shooting death of Deputy
Riley.
The Illinois State Police believes
Tate carjacked a semitruck
near the area where Deputy
Riley’s patrol vehicle was
found abandoned - forcing the
driver of the truck to take him to
a gas station in St. Peters, Missouri,
before a series of other
car jackings, robberies, and
shootings occurred.
ISP says that Tate is suspected
of then traveling back into
Illinois with a kidnapped victim
in another stolen vehicle,
which was found
at a home in rural
Carlyle.
Police believe
Tate then committed
a home invasion
in Carlysle, taking
the homeowner and
the other kidnapped
victim hostage.
Both of the hostages
were rescued
and uninjured, and
Tate was taken to
the Clinton County
Jail where he’s
being charged with
First Degree Murder.
After Deputy
Riley’s autopsy
was performed in
Evansville, dozens
of law enforcement
officers escorted
him back home to
Illinois.
Funeral arrangements
had not been
announced at the
time of publishing.
The BLUES and an
all our brothers and
sisters in Blue here
in Texas offer our
sincerest condolences
to the Riley
family.
NC Trooper crashes at traffic stop, killing
another trooper who was his brother.
By Mark Price
A state trooper and a civilian
motorist were killed in a car crash
that involved the trooper’s brother
— who is also a state trooper,
according to the N.C. Department of
Public Safety.
It happened just before 9 p.m.
Monday, Jan. 3, at a traffic stop in
Rutherford County, southeast of
Asheville.
Investigators identified the trooper
who died as John S. Horton, a 15-
year veteran assigned to Rutherford
County.
The identity of the civilian driver
has not been released as of Jan. 4.
Horton died when his brother,
Trooper James N. Horton, was
responding to assist him in a traffic
stop near the intersection of High
Shoals Church and Goodes Grove
Church roads, officials said.
Trooper John Horton, a fifteen-year
veteran assigned to Rutherford
County, was transported to a
Spartanburg hospital where he died
of his injuries.
“Trooper James Horton lost control
of his vehicle upon approaching
the traffic stop,” officials said.
“James Horton collided with the
stationary patrol vehicle and subsequently
struck Trooper John Horton
and the detained driver who were
standing along the roadside.”
The detained driver died at the
scene.
“Trooper James Horton was taken
to a local hospital for minor injuries
and has since been released. The
North Carolina Trooper John Horton
two involved troopers are brothers,”
state officials said.
Details on road conditions were
not released, but the crash happened
after a day of snow, sleet and
quick-dropping temperatures in the
mountains.
“Our hearts are broken with the
loss of our friend and our brother,
Trooper John Horton,” State Highway
Patrol Commander Col. Freddy
L. Johnson Jr. said in a news release.
“For all involved in this tragic
event the coming days will undoubtedly
be difficult, but we are
committed to stand alongside with
them with our thoughts, prayers
and unwavering support.”
24 The BLUES POLICE MAGAZINE The BLUES POLICE MAGAZINE 25