St. Clair Prosecutor Declines Charges in Trooper Shooting

ST. CLAIR COUNTY - St. Clair County State’s Attorney James Gomric said this week he will not file criminal charges against an Illinois state trooper in the Jan. 4, 2026, fatal shooting of Rachel E. Tarrence in East St. Louis, after reviews by his office and the Illinois State Police Division of Internal Investigation.

In a letter released after Gomric said he met with Tarrence’s family and their attorney, the state’s attorney said the decision followed a review of video, audio, reports, and other investigative materials tied to the shooting outside Rainbow Liquor Store, 4510 State St. in East St. Louis.

“Thorough evaluation of the January 4, 2026, officer-involved shooting included a detailed review of over 40 hours of audio/video encompassing radio traffic, dashcam, bodycam, surveillance and witness interviews,” Gomric wrote. “Where video footage depicted the same moment in time from different angles, the videos were viewed individually and overlapped with one another for maximum clarity of the events in terms of time and space.”

According to the letter, Maryville Police contacted Illinois State Police dispatch at about 12:33:07 a.m. Jan. 4 to request an ISPERN for a stolen 2024 white Chevrolet Equinox reportedly driven by Tarrence. The request was assigned as ISPERN No. 30 and broadcast shortly afterward.

Gomric wrote that at about 10:04:20 p.m., a trooper contacted dispatch with the license plate of the Equinox traveling near Kingshighway and Interstate 64 in St. Clair County. At about 10:06:56 p.m., dispatch confirmed the vehicle was stolen. At about 10:07:33 p.m., a trooper reported that “they” were pulling into a liquor store off State Street, and at about 10:08:08 p.m., a trooper called out a felony traffic stop.

The subsequent encounter was captured on surveillance video from Rainbow Liquor Store in East St. Louis, body camera footage from four troopers and dash camera video from the four units involved, Gomric wrote.

“After the troopers activate their overhead lights and the vehicles come to a stop, Ms. Tarrence reverses the Equinox into Trooper [redacted]’s SUV with sufficient force that the impact can be both seen and heard,” the letter said.

The trooper then exited his SUV, which was parked in front of and on the passenger side of the Equinox, and approached the passenger side of the vehicle with his firearm drawn. While officers were issuing commands to the occupants, the Equinox moved toward the trooper and then stopped, according to the letter.

“The driver, Ms. Tarrence, disregards commands to put the car in park, and the engine can be heard revving before the vehicle begins to move forward again,” Gomric wrote. “Trooper [redacted] fires three shots into the vehicle in rapid succession.”

According to the letter, two bullets entered Tarrence’s torso. Gomric wrote that the front-seat passenger, identified in the letter as [redacted], and her minor son, identified as [redacted], were physically unharmed. He said troopers reported the shots fired, requested EMS and attempted life-saving measures until emergency responders arrived. Tarrence did not survive her injuries.

“In addition to my own review, I assigned multiple Assistant State’s Attorneys to independently analyze the submitted materials,” Gomric wrote. “The Assistants presented their assessments individually, and then as part of a group discussion.”

“After careful consideration, and in light of all the facts and circumstances, my Office will not initiate a criminal case against Trooper [redacted],” he wrote. “My review suggests ISP Division of Internal Investigation has, to date, pursued all reasonable avenues that could produce relevant evidence. Accordingly, I consider this matter closed.”

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