Key Points

• Police in Washington, Illinois, responded early Sunday morning to reports of multiple gunshots in the 900 block of Mallard Way, with officers arriving at about 4.30 am.
• A person inside a multi-unit building opened fire on officers, and one Washington police officer returned fire during the incident.
• An officer from an assisting agency suffered a minor injury and was treated at the scene by a physician associated with the Central Illinois Emergency Response Team.
• The suspect was taken into custody and later transported to OSF Medical Centre in Peoria for medical assistance.
• An explosion occurred at the residence after the exchange of gunfire, followed by a fire that spread to nearby structures.
• Nearby residents were evacuated, and all occupants of the multi-unit building have been displaced because of fire damage.
• The Washington Fire Department brought the blaze under control with help from neighbouring departments, while the Peoria Police Department’s Explosive Ordinance Disposal team helped assess scene safety.
• Illinois State Police will investigate the officer-involved shooting, and the Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal and the Washington Fire Department will investigate the fire.
• Mallard Way and Kingsbury Road between North Cummings Lane and Labrador Way remained closed during the investigation, with access limited to verified residents.

Washington (Evening Washington News) May 16, 2026 – Police responded to the 900 block of Mallard Way at about 4.30am after reports of multiple gunshots, and officers from the East Peoria Police Department and Illinois State Police also went to the scene, according to the department’s account. The incident escalated quickly when a person inside the building fired on officers, prompting a Washington police officer to return fire. An officer from an assisting agency sustained a minor injury and was treated at the scene by a physician linked to the Central Illinois Emergency Response Team.

What happened at Mallard Way?

The Washington Police Department said the suspect was taken into custody after the exchange of gunfire. Medical assistance was requested immediately, and the suspect was transported to OSF Medical Centre in Peoria.

Officials also reported that an explosion occurred at the residence from which the suspect had fired, followed by a fire that spread to nearby structures. Nearby homes were evacuated while emergency crews worked at the scene.

How did the fire spread, and who responded?

The Washington Fire Department suppressed the blaze with assistance from surrounding departments, according to the release. The Peoria Police Department’s Explosive Ordinance Disposal team also assisted in checking the scene for safety.

Because of the damage, all residents of the multi-unit building have been displaced, and police have notified the American Red Cross to provide support. The fire and explosion created a prolonged emergency response in the area, with officials continuing to secure the site.

What did local officials say?

Washington mayor Lilija Stevens said in a Facebook post that the cause of the explosion in the 900 block of Mallard Way has not yet been determined. She described the crime scene as a

“shocking situation for our community.”

Stevens added that the Washington Police Department and Washington Fire Department should be commended, along with mutual aid from surrounding areas, for handling what she called an unfolding event.

Which agencies are investigating?

Illinois State Police will investigate the officer-involved shooting and will conduct an extended investigation into the suspect’s actions, according to the Washington Police Department.

The Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal and the Washington Fire Department will investigate the fire.

Police also said Mallard Way and Kingsbury Road between North Cummings Lane and Labrador Way were closed during the investigation, with access allowed only for verified residents.

Why is this incident significant?

The case combines several serious public safety issues in one rapidly developing incident: gunfire directed at officers, an injury to an assisting officer, a suspect in custody, an explosion, and a fire that forced evacuations and displaced residents.

Because the scene involves both a shooting and a structural fire, multiple agencies are involved, which usually means the investigation will move in separate but connected strands. The official focus now appears to be on establishing how the shooting unfolded, what caused the explosion, and whether the fire was directly linked to the earlier violence.

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Background of the development

Officer-involved shootings that also include fire or explosion typically trigger coordinated investigations because each element can affect the others. In this case, police, fire officials and explosive ordnance specialists all had roles at the scene, which suggests investigators must examine both criminal conduct and the safety conditions inside the building.

The fact that residents were displaced and nearby homes evacuated also means emergency management, housing support and public communication will likely remain part of the response in the coming days.

How might this affect residents and the wider community?

For residents of the building and nearby streets, the immediate impact is displacement, restricted access and uncertainty about when it will be safe to return. For the wider Washington community, the incident is likely to raise concerns about neighbourhood safety, emergency preparedness and the security of multi-unit housing. The investigation may also determine whether any further public safety steps are needed around the affected area, especially while the cause of the explosion and the sequence of events are still being established.