On 05-18-19 at approximately 1:38 p.m., officers with the City of Carbondale Police Department responded to Rue 21, in the 1200 block of East Main Street in reference to a theft and battery complaint. Officers arrested Eric Brown of Murphysboro, 36 years of age. Officers transported Brown to the Carbondale Police Department for prisoner processing. As Officers detained Brown in the processing area of the Police Department, Brown produced a concealed firearm. Brown fired at an officer inside the processing area of the Police Department. The officer retreated to safety and Brown remained detained and barricaded in the processing area. A Carbondale Police Department Crisis Negotiator with the assistance of the Illinois State Police negotiated with Brown, who eventually relinquished the firearm. No one was injured during the incident.
Brown is charged with Aggravated Discharge of a Firearm, Aggravated Unlawful Use of Weapons, Aggravated Assault, Bringing Contraband into a Penal Institution, Possession of a Stolen Firearm and Unlawful Use of Weapons by a Felon. Brown is incarcerated in the Jackson County Jail. The investigation is currently active and ongoing.

Eric Brown, 36 of Murphysboro
Anyone with information about this incident is encouraged to contact the City of Carbondale Police Department at (618) 457-3200. You may also call the Carbondale/SIU Crime Stoppers anonymous tip line at (618) 549-COPS (2677) or the Murphysboro/Jackson County anonymous tip line at (618) 687-COPS (2677). Anonymous tips may also be made by selecting the “Crime Stoppers” tab located on the main page of this website. Please help yourself, along with your county, its communities and the university campus by using these numbers if you witness, or have any information pertaining to, a crime. Cash rewards for information which leads to an arrest are also made anonymously. Remember, crime doesn’t pay, but Crime Stoppers does!