Mackinaw man identified in Friday shootout

mackinaw shooting
The Peoria County Coroner says 18-year-old Matthew Brown was killed by police acting in self-defense at this home in rural Mackinaw. (WMBD photo)

By Patrick Baron

MACKINAW – The Peoria County Coroner has identified the man who was killed Friday during a confrontation with two Tazewell County Sheriff’s deputies and a Mackinaw police officer.

Jamie Harwood identified Matthew Brown, 18, of Mackinaw as the man who reportedly approached the police officers while armed and fired a gunshot. A sheriff’s department release said one of the deputy officers returned the fire in self-defense. Harwood says Brown died from multiple gunshot wounds and internal bleeding, including five penetrating wounds with exits. Brown was pronounced dead at OSF Saint Francis Medical Center at 10:40 a.m.

The incident remains under investigation by the coroner’s office and State Police.

Patrick Baron can be reached at [email protected].

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