ROCKFORD — A federal jury in Rockford today convicted a former Springfield, Illinois resident in connection with the killing of Special Deputy U.S. Marshal/McHenry County Sheriff’s Deputy Jacob Keltner.
The jury found Floyd E. Brown, 42, of Springfield, Illinois, guilty of second-degree murder of a federal officer, attempting to kill additional federal officers, assault of federal officers, and multiple firearm offenses. The convictions carry a maximum sentence of life in prison. U.S. District Judge Matthew F. Kennelly set sentencing for July 19, 2022, at 1:00 p.m.
The convictions were announced by John R. Lausch, Jr., United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Emmerson Buie, Jr., Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago office of the FBI. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, U.S. Marshals Service, McHenry County Sheriff’s Office, Rockford Police Department, Winnebago County Sheriff’s Office, Bloomington Police Department, Loves Park Police Department, Lincoln Police Department, Logan County Sheriff’s Office, and Illinois State Police. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Talia Bucci, Scott Paccagnini, and Ronald DeWald.
Evidence presented at the two-week trial revealed that Special Deputy Keltner was fatally wounded on March 7, 2019, when members of the U.S. Marshals Service Great Lakes Regional Fugitive Task Force and other law enforcement officers attempted to execute a warrant for Brown’s arrest at a Rockford hotel. Brown was wanted on a residential burglary charge. Special Deputy Keltner served as a McHenry County Sheriff’s deputy and was a sworn member of the task force.
When the officers attempted to gain access to Brown’s third-floor hotel room, he fired ten shots through the door and nearby walls, narrowly missing a Deputy U.S. Marshal and two Special Deputy U.S. Marshals. Brown then jumped out of a window and fired a shot that fatally struck Special Deputy Keltner, who was covering the exterior of the hotel. Brown was arrested several hours later near Lincoln, Ill., after a high-speed pursuit.
The McHenry County Sheriff’s Office announced at 4:55 p.m. Thursday March 7, 2019 that an officer was shot at a Rockford Extended Stay America and had died. The officer’s identity was released as McHenry County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Jacob Keltner.
A US Marshals Great Lakes Regional Fugitive Task Force was serving a warrant for the arrest of Floyd Brown at the Extended Stay Hotel at 747 North Bell School Road in Rockford about 9:00 a.m. Thursday. Police said Brown opened fire through his hotel door and a bullet struck Keltner. Initially at a press conference, police said the McHenry County officer was shot outside in the parking lot.
After shooting Keltner, police believe Brown jumped from his third floor hotel room window and fled the scene in a Mercury Grand Marquis.
Deputy Jacob Keltner was transported to Javon Bea Hospital Riverside in Rockford, about 3 miles north of the shooting scene, and placed on life support until his family could be notified. He was pronounced dead shortly after 3:30 p.m., according to McHenry County Sheriff’s Office. Keltner, age 35, was a 12-year veteran of department and left behind a wife and two children.
A female acquaintance of the suspect was also shot in the incident. Police said she was shot by the suspect. She was transported to a Rockford hospital.
Prosecutors in Winnebago County had issued an arrest warrant for Brown on an attempted murder charge with a bond of $5 million. The charges were upgraded to murder.
Floyd Brown surrendered about 5:00 p.m. off of I-55 just northeast of Lincoln, Illinois after a crash and standoff with Illinois State Police.
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