Armed Carjacking Ends in Death

Update: Following family notification the DeKalb Police are able to release the name of the suspect in this incident. He is Malik Henry, age 19, of DeKalb.

On Wednesday, April 6th, 2016 at approximately 1:30 pm DeKalb Police responded to an armed, carjacking incident located at 919 Ridge Drive. An emergency 911 call originating from the office of West Ridge Apartments indicated that a maintenance employee had been confronted by a tenant at gunpoint, the tenant demanded the victim’s keys to his vehicle, the keys were surrendered, and the tenant (offender) took the keys and drove off.

A description of the incident and the stolen vehicle was dispatched and within minutes DeKalb Police located the stolen vehicle being driven by the offender, southbound in the 100 block of N. Annie Glidden Road. The stolen vehicle turned westbound onto Illinois Route 38 (Lincoln Highway) where the officer attempted to effect a traffic stop, the offender refused to pull over, increased his speed, and a pursuit ensued. The pursuit continued westbound to Rochelle near the interchange of Illinois Route 38 and Interstate 39 where a pursuit termination device was deployed.

The offender stopped the vehicle momentarily, discharged a firearm inside the vehicle, and the vehicle then left the roadway coming to a stop in an adjacent field. The preliminary investigation revealed that the offender had shot himself while in the vehicle and was pronounced dead at the scene. The DeKalb Police, with the assistance of the Rochelle Police secured the scene and the Illinois State Police was immediately requested to conduct the follow-up, on scene investigation. The offender’s identity will be withheld until it is confirmed and the appropriate notifications have been made.

The subsequent investigation by the DeKalb Police has linked the offender to a robbery that occurred at 919 Ridge Drive on April 5th, 2016 at approximately 8:00 pm. At that time a pizza delivery person was robbed at gunpoint and the offender fled the scene on foot. Evidence recovered from the offender’s apartment complex regarding the armed carjacking linked the offender to that robbery which is the subject of an ongoing investigation. Further information will be released as the investigation continues.

Agencies assisting the DeKalb Police include the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office, Rochelle Police, Hillcrest Police, Ogle County Sheriff’s Office, and the Illinois State Police.

The contents of this press release are based upon the best information available to the DeKalb Police Department. The statements regarding the conduct of any person identified above are allegations until affirmed pursuant to the investigation or otherwise proven.