DECATUR, Ill. – The Decatur Police Department has released newly obtained body camera and dash camera footage of a deadly officer-involved shooting that took place shortly after midnight on October 12th. The incident left one suspect dead and two officers wounded, sparking renewed discussions in the community about law enforcement, transparency, and the dangers officers face on the job.
The footage, shown during a press conference on Thursday, reveals in detail the moments when a routine traffic stop escalated into a life-or-death struggle. Police Chief Shane Brandel said releasing the video was necessary to provide “clarity, accountability, and a complete picture of what happened that night.”
Why police stopped the car
According to Chief Brandel, officers had been tipped off by a confidential informant that 32-year-old Jamontey Neal was armed. Neal, who had a prior felony conviction, was legally prohibited from possessing a firearm.
While Brandel declined to disclose additional details about the informant, citing safety concerns, he emphasized that the stop was based on credible information.
At approximately 12:30 a.m., officers Austin Bowman and Ryan Ricker pulled Neal over at the intersection of Woodford and Walnut Streets. Sgt. Timothy Wittmer arrived as backup, while Macon County Sheriff’s Deputy Travis Wolfe pulled up moments later.
From verbal commands to gunfire
The video shows Bowman approaching Neal from the driver’s side and Ricker from the passenger’s side. Almost immediately, the officers can be heard giving urgent commands:
“Show me your hands, buddy.”
“Get out of the car now.”
Within seconds, Officer Ricker spotted a firearm concealed beneath Neal. Sgt. Wittmer moved in to assist as the officers attempted to remove Neal from the car.
Suddenly, Neal reached for a second gun and fired the first shot. Police say all four officers returned fire in self-defense.
Officers caught in the line of fire
The chaotic scene quickly turned deadly. Sgt. Wittmer was struck three times — once in the hand, once in the shoulder, and once in the head by a fragmented bullet. According to Chief Brandel, the injury to Wittmer’s hand was the most severe, as it caused his firearm to malfunction during the gun battle. Despite his injuries, Wittmer managed to clear the weapon and continue firing.
Remarkably, a titanium wallet in Wittmer’s pocket stopped one of the rounds, likely saving his life.
Officer Bowman was also hit, taking a bullet to the left side of his abdomen. Both Wittmer and Bowman were rushed to the hospital and have since undergone treatment. Brandel stated that both are recovering and in stable condition.
Community and official response
Chief Brandel praised the officers’ actions under extreme duress:
“Sergeant Wittmer was in the worst possible position. He had been struck, his vision was impaired, and he was completely exposed. Yet he continued to fight for his life and for the safety of his fellow officers.”
He further explained that the Illinois State Police are finalizing investigative reports, which will be submitted to the Macon County State’s Attorney’s Office. The state’s attorney will determine whether the officers’ use of deadly force was justified under the law.
At the same time, investigators are working to trace the origin of the firearms used by Neal.
What comes next
For now, the Decatur Police Department is standing by the officers’ response, describing the encounter as a “fight for survival.” The release of the footage is intended to bring transparency to the public, though officials acknowledge that some of the images are disturbing.
The full, unedited versions of the videos are available to view at WCIA.com for those seeking additional context.
