Man killed, one state trooper injured in shooting on Interstate 64

A New Mexico man was killed and an Illinois State Police trooper was injured in exchange of gunfire on Interstate 64 near Mount Vernon early Tuesday, police said.

Gunfire was exchanged about 3 a.m. between 23-year-old Brandon L. Griffin of Albuquerque, New Mexico, and a trooper at Milepost 72 on eastbound I-64 in Jefferson County, Illinois State Police said in an updated news release Tuesday afternoon.

“While on scene, an altercation occurred during which gunfire was exchanged between Griffin and a responding officer,” the news release stated.

Griffin was pronounced deceased at the scene.

A 16-year veteran of the Illinois State Police suffered “serious, although non-life threatening, injuries after being shot during the altercation and is being treated at a regional hospital.” The trooper’s name was not released.

Two troopers had responded to the site. The first one stopped to assist a stranded motorist on the right shoulder, according to the news release. This trooper encountered Griffin and a female passenger. A second trooper arrived for routine assistance.

Only one of the troopers was injured and the female passenger was not injured.

The eastbound lanes of the highway were closed after the shooting but reopened at about 6:25 a.m. They were closed again at 7:48 a.m. as part of the investigation and reopened again at 8:53 a.m.

The Illinois State Police Division of Internal Investigation is investigating the shooting and then all evidence and facts will be submitted to the Jefferson County State’s Attorney’s Office.

No other information about the shooting was available to be released.

Jefferson County Coroner Roger Hayse said an autopsy will be conducted Thursday morning.