Matthew G. Brown, an 18-year-old male from Mackinaw, Illinois, tragically passed away on April 20, 2018. He was born on May 8, 1999, in Peoria, Illinois, to Bruce and Susan Cisowski Brown. Matthew's death occurred at OSF St. Francis Medical Center in Peoria.
The circumstances surrounding Matthew's death were deeply distressing. On the morning of April 20, 2018, Tazewell County sheriff's deputies responded to a call reporting an armed man at Matthew's home in Mackinaw.
Upon arrival, officers encountered Matthew, who allegedly pointed a gun at them. In response, the deputies shot Matthew multiple times, resulting in his death from gunshot wounds and internal bleeding.
Following the incident, an investigation was launched by the Illinois State Police to determine the events leading up to the shooting. The Peoria County Coroner, Jamie Harwood, confirmed that Matthew had been shot five times. The final autopsy report was pending toxicology results at the time.
In the aftermath of Matthew's death, his mother, Susan Brown, filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the city of Mackinaw, Tazewell County, and the officers involved. The lawsuit alleged that the officers were not properly trained to handle a mentally ill person and that Matthew was shot while complying with their orders. The suit claimed that Matthew was experiencing a mental health crisis and that his mother had called for an ambulance to take him to the hospital for immediate mental health treatment.
The lawsuit named several individuals and entities, including Deputy Bradley Eccles, the Tazewell County Sheriff's Office, and the city of Mackinaw. It argued that the use of deadly force was unjustified and that Matthew posed no immediate threat to the officers at the time of the shooting. Despite the lawsuit, the Tazewell County State's Attorney, Stu Umholtz, determined that the use of deadly force by Deputy Eccles was legally justified.
Matthew's death and the subsequent legal proceedings highlighted the complexities and challenges of law enforcement's response to mental health crises. The case underscored the need for improved training and protocols to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
