GIBSON CITY — Authorities continued their search Monday for a 70-year-old Gibson City man who shot two police officers and set fire to his home early Saturday.
Illinois State Police identified the man as David D. Jordan. They said he is considered to be “armed and dangerous.”
State police said Jordan shot a Gibson City police officer and a Ford County sheriff’s deputy who had responded around 2:31 a.m. Saturday to a report that Jordan was walking around naked outside his home in the 100 block of West Ash Street on the city’s southwest side, just south of McDonald’s.
“Upon attempting to make contact with Jordan at his residence, officers were met with gunfire,” said a news release Saturday from state police. “Both officers (struck by gunfire) were transported to local hospitals and treated for non-life-threatening injuries.”
Shortly after the shooting, the house caught fire, state police said.
Emergency personnel at the scene of a house fire and shooting Saturday morning on Ash Street in Gibson City. (Dave Hinton/The News-Gazette)
After the blaze was extinguished, police searched the home and determined that Jordan was not inside. His whereabouts remained unknown as the search entered its third day Monday.
He was last seen unclothed and “may be seen with a red bicycle,” state police said.
“If you should see Jordan, do not approach him and call 911,” said state police, who are leading the investigation upon the request of Gibson City police and the sheriff’s office.
According to Ford County Circuit Court records, Jordan was ordered to serve 18 months of court supervision and to undergo a psychiatric evaluation after pleading guilty in May 2016 to one count of public indecency/lewd exposure, a Class A misdemeanor. The judgment was terminated and termed “satisfied” in November 2017.
Gibson City Fire Chief Bruce Kallal said his agency was called to Jordan’s burning home at 146 W. Ash St. around 3 a.m. Saturday and immediately requested mutual aid from the nearby Sibley, Elliott and Melvin/Roberts fire departments. The fire destroyed the $175,000 home and caused an additional $50,000 in damages to a neighboring residence at 142 W. Ash St. and its detached garage, Kallal said.
After the blaze was put out, the firefighters on scene assisted investigators for the state fire marshal’s office and state police with a search of Jordan’s home, with Paxton firefighters called to help with the effort, as well, Kallal said. In all, an estimated 30 firefighters came to the scene, bringing 14 firetrucks, before the scene was cleared around 1:30 p.m., Kallal said.
Saturday’s incident was believed to be the first shooting of a police officer in Ford County since April 7, 1979, when state trooper Michael McCarter and Paxton police officer William Caisse were among five people killed in the infamous Interstate 57 shootout near Paxton. Also shot but surviving was Paxton police officer Larry Hale.
“We are very thankful for all of our police officers, especially those involved in the incident earlier Saturday morning,” Gibson City Mayor Dan Dickey said in a statement Sunday. “Our prayers go out to our officers who were wounded in the line of duty as well as their families as we pray for their speedy and full recovery. Yesterday’s incident is a reminder to everyone that the police risk their lives each and every day to protect and serve each and every one of us. We appreciate the response and support of the GCPD, Ford County Sheriff’s Department, the Illinois State Police and other agencies involved in the ongoing investigation and have full confidence that they will continue to keep our community safe. We would also like to give all first responders a heartfelt thanks for their service and dedication to our community.”
In a social media post Saturday, Paxton police said their thoughts were with the officers who were shot.
“We are grateful they are alive, and we ask our community to keep them, their families, and all first responders in your thoughts during this difficult time,” Paxton police said on Facebook. “To our two injured officers — your courage does not go unnoticed. We stand with you, we support you, and we wish you a full and speedy recovery.”