By Marlene Lenthang -
NBC News
A police officer in Bradley, Illinois, pleaded for her life before being fatally shot with her own weapon at a hotel last week, prosecutors reported.
Kankakee County State Attorney Jim Rowe shared new details on the last moments of Bradley Police Sgt. Marlene Rittmanic on Monday, saying he has asked federal prosecutors to seek the death penalty for Darius Sullivan. , 25, and Xandria Harris, 26, who have been charged with first degree murder and attempted first degree murder.
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Rittmanic, 49, was fatally shot and his partner, Agent Tyler Bailey, was seriously injured after they responded to a call at a Comfort Inn in Bradley, about 62 miles (100 kilometers) south of Chicago, December 29.
The call reported the barking of dogs in an unattended vehicle in the parking lot.
Agents found the possible owners of the vehicle in a hotel room and spoke to them from outside the door.
The subjects left the room and shot the two officers, Bradley police explained in a statement.
Rowe revealed at Harris's bail hearing Monday that Sullivan left the hotel room with a 9mm pistol, reported NBC Chicago, an affiliate of our sister network NBC News.
Sullivan pointed the gun and shot Bailey in the head and then aimed the gun at Rittmanic and shot him as he tried to flee, according to Rowe.
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Rowe alleged that Sullivan chased Rittmanic down the hall, pinned her against the door, and simultaneously tried to unlock his pistol and disarm Rittmanic.
Rowe accused Harris of helping him successfully disarm Rittmanic.
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The couple stood over Rittmanic while she was injured on the ground, pointing their guns at her, according to the prosecutor.
"Sergeant Rittmanic was begging them to go away, that they didn't have to do this, please go away, please don't do it," Rowe said.
"He was desperately begging for his life," he noted.
Sullivan then fired twice with what prosecutors believe was Rittmanic's weapon, hitting Rittmanic in the neck area, according to Rowe.
Harris handed the keys to Sullivan and said, "You have to go," and fled, according to Rowe.
Then he returned to the hotel room, collected his belongings and his two children, who were in the room, and escaped.
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Rittmanic died that night and Bailey is still in the hospital "fighting for his life."
Sullivan was taken into custody Friday after authorities with a search warrant searched a home in North Manchester, Indiana, according to the Indiana State Police.
Harris also turned himself in to the Bradley Police Department on Friday, the Illinois State Police said.
Marlene Rittmanic, Bradley Police Department
Sullivan is charged with six counts of first degree murder, two counts of attempted first degree murder and one count of aggravated assault with a firearm.
Harris is charged with three counts of first degree murder and one count of attempted first degree murder.
Attorneys for Sullivan and Harris were not listed online Tuesday.
Harris was denied bail Monday and remains in the custody of the Kankakee County Sheriff's Department.
Sullivan remains in the custody of the Indiana police.
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Sullivan refused to waive the extradition to Illinois.
Rowe said his office is seeking an order from the governor for him to return to Illinois to face the charges.
Rowe announced Monday that his office filed state charges against Sullivan and Harris for first-degree murder of a police officer and for attempted first-degree murder of a police officer.
He said state charges will proceed in Kankakee County Court and that his office will seek life sentences.
He also petitioned the US Attorney General and the US Attorney for Central Illinois to review cases on federal murder charges and to request federal death sentences.
Although Illinois is not a death penalty state, the attorney general can authorize the filing of petitions seeking the death penalty in federal murder cases, Rowe said, citing legal precedents and "the nature of the crimes."
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“Our state attorney's office will now work to ensure that these offenders face the harshest justice permitted by law, regardless of jurisdiction, and to ensure that the full burden of criminal justice is placed on them and anyone who takes them. has helped, "he said.
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Both cases will go before a Kankakee County grand jury this month.
Harris's appearance is scheduled for January 27.
