The preliminary autopsy for Daniel O. El shows he was shot 16 times. El was shot in an exchange of gunfire with Peoria Police after he fled a traffic stop.
El, 33, reportedly ran a stop sign and had an expired registration. The passenger in his car had been taken into custody before El took off, crashed and fled on foot. When police found him minutes later, shots were fired.
Peoria County Coroner Jamie Harwood says El was struck 8 times in the chest, abdomen, and pelvis and had 5 perforating and 3 graze wounds. “It’s not surprising to me when we talk about the goal of law enforcement is to protect and serve. I’m not a police officer to understand the gravity of what it really means. It doesn’t surprise me.”
"I think there are efforts that are made to protect our community, to serve our community. In my communication with a police officer yesterday, they don’t wake up with the goal to shoot people. They wake up to serve our community and protect our community every day,” Harwood said.
Harwood says toxicology results are pending but El's cause of death most likely was the result of the gunshot wounds to the chest.
The officer who was shot is in stable condition. The three officers involved in the shooting are on leave.
Harwood says he understands questions remain. But he says pursuant to state law, the Illinois State Police is handling the investigation.