One person has died after a shooting in the parking lot of the Jacksonville Police Department, and police believe a house fire in rural Chapin may be connected to the incident.
The shooting happened shortly after 6 p.m. Jacksonville Police Chief Tony Grootens has confirmed to WLDS-WEAI News that the man who was shot has died.
Grootens says police have a person of interest that is currently receiving treatment at a hospital in Springfield, and that he’s expected to survive.
Police aren’t identifying the shooting victim or the person of interest. No arrests have been made.
Police aren’t releasing motives at this time for the shooting, but we were told authorities believe the person believed to be responsible was known to the victim. Grootens says family members of the victim are still being notified.
“We do know there was two vehicles in the parking lot, and it appears that the one vehicle that we think the suspect or person of interest was in, fired the shots into the second vehicle, got into his vehicle and then drove out of the parking lot,” says Grootens.
Police believe the shooting is connected to a vehicle fire on Markham Road and a house fire on Perbix Road, both in rural Chapin. Law enforcement at the scene of the house fire told us no one was home at the time of the blaze. The state fire marshal has been called in to investigate.
Grootens says Morgan County deputies have secured the vehicle reportedly involved in the fire, and that police will obtain a search warrant.
Check back with this story for more updates.