Suspect in custody after 2 found dead in Sheridan, Illinois house fire
A suspect was apprehended in LaSalle County, Illinois, late Thursday, after two people were found dead after a report of shots fired and a house fire in the early-morning hours.
Just after 6 p.m., the LaSalle County Sheriff's office said Ronald W. Martin Jr., 45, was in custody. A warrant was issued earlier charging Martin with six counts of murder.
LaSalle County Undersheriff David Ortiz said deputies responded to a call for shots fired just before 1 a.m. in the 4200 block of 2551st Road. Around 1:15 a.m., deputies were notified the same house was on fire.
After the fire was extinguished, two adults were found dead inside the home.
Ortiz said there were five people inside the house, including Martin. One person was able to escape and called 911. Another person was hurt while running from house, but was not shot. Ortiz said it's possible that victim was injured by shrapnel.
Ortiz said Martin lives about two miles away from the home where the victims were found dead, and it appears he was an acquaintance of the family who lives there.
Ortiz said investigators believe the suspect fled the scene in a vehicle. Sheriff's officers and Illinois State Police executed a search warrant at the suspect's home on Thursday, but he was not home at the time.
Police said the victims' cause of death is under investigation. In part because of the fire, it was not immediately clear how the victims died. An autopsy was scheduled for Friday. The victims have not yet been identified.
Video from the scene shows a large law enforcement presence, including police, SWAT, and K-9 units. Police officers have blocked off a large stretch of roadway in the area.
The property at the center of the investigation has a house, an apartment building, and two trailers. The house's roof had visible fire damage.
A neighbor said, every once in a while, she has heard commotion coming from the area.
"People yelling; I don't know if they're fighting, or having a good time. You know, I don't know," Nancy Stadler said. "It doesn't worry me. I'm not scared. I'm going to go about my business."
The investigation remained ongoing Thursday afternoon, and anyone with information is asked to contact police.
Ortiz said the case appears to be an isolated incident. U.S. Marshals and Illinois State Police were assisting sheriff's officials in the manhunt, and the Illinois State Fire Marshal was assisting in the fire investigation.
