On November 3rd 2003, Mark Castronovo was working a shift with Todd Murr.
It is alleged that Murr’s parents had a vehicle stolen from them the day prior.
Murr and Castronovo were patrolling near the State St & Winnebago area when they seen a vehicle matching the description. The two cops got out of their squad and both of them pulled out their guns and pointed them at the driver.
James Gerth continued driving the vehicle when Murr fired four shots, three of them hitting Gerth in the head and one in the arm. Gerth was killed instantly but the car continued moving.
The vehicle kept going as it entered a crowed parking lot where it hit a parked car and finally ended when it crashed into a building.
Castronovo was one of the officers that testified in the case against Anthony Ross. The case would eventually be over turned due to admitted police misconduct by Doug Palmer.
This was the third police shooting in Winnebago county in 2003 and seventh deadly force incident in the 2000’s