In the evening of February 5th, 2006, Donald Cooper was allegedly harassing people at Hollander grocery store.
This led to a 911 complaint being made and Rockford police officers responded to the scene. As soon as the squad cars pulled up, Donald took off running. The officers chased after him in their squads eventually exited in the parking lot of an office building at 3703 N. Main Street.
There police say he stopped and faced Rockford police officer Richard DeVlieger put his hands in his pockets then back out again before turning and running away. DeVlieger shot and killed Donald as he ran.
Donald was unarmed.
This was the first police shooting in Winnebago County in 2006 and first since 2003 when three shootings took place.
It was the 8th deadly force incident in Winnebago County in the 2000’s.