Rockford, Illinois — The Rockford Police Department and Winnebago County Sheriff’s Office released multiple videos of the shooting of 51-year-old Bradley Thompkins, by officers after he threatened them with a gun at Hard Rock's temporary Rockford Casino on May 28th, 2022. Officers were dispatched to the casino around 8:38 p.m. after someone inside the casino called 911 for a report that Thompkins was making threats with a gun in the parking lot. Police say that Thompkins got out of the vehicle and put the gun to his head. The video shows Deputy Tomasz Wysocki asking for backup and trying to convince Thompkins to put down a handgun the man was holding to his own head.

Rockford police officers and Winnebago County deputies arrive while Deputy Wysocki is speaking with Thompkins. As police urged Thompkins to put down the gun, he fires into the air. He slumps his shoulders and puts his hand to his forehead while still holding the gun to his head with his other hand. He then raises the gun, pointing it at officers before they open fire. The state’s attorney’s office believes three officers shot Thompkins before taking him into custody. Two of the officers were from the Rockford Police Department and the third was from the Winnebago County Sheriff’s Office. Thompkins was taken by ambulance to a nearby hospital and remains in critical condition. The officers were not hurt.