In accordance with ISP’s commitment to integrity and public transparency, the video of the event is being made available to the public and can be found HERE.
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EAST ST. LOUIS — The Illinois State Police released video footage Friday, Jan. 23, 2026, of an officer-involved shooting that occurred Jan. 4, 2026, in East St. Louis, where a trooper fatally shot a woman after she allegedly struck a police vehicle and failed to comply with commands.
At approximately 10:08 p.m. on Jan. 4, 2026, state troopers were investigating reports of a stolen vehicle at a convenience store located in the 4500 block of South State Street. According to the Illinois State Police Division of Internal Investigation, 40-year-old Rachel E. Tarrence of Maryville, Illinois, was driving the vehicle in question. After coming to a stop, Tarrence immediately put the vehicle in reverse, striking an ISP squad car.
Troopers outside their vehicles gave commands for Tarrence to show her hands and put the vehicle in park, but she did not comply and instead drove forward.
A state trooper then fired his weapon, striking Tarrence. The time from when the squad car was struck to when shots were fired was estimated to be eight seconds.
Emergency medical services were called to the scene, and troopers began rendering medical aid. Tarrence was transported to a local hospital, where she was pronounced deceased. Two passengers in the vehicle, an adult male and a child, were not injured. No troopers sustained injuries during the incident.
The ISP Division of Internal Investigation is conducting an inquiry into the shooting as mandated by the Police and Community Relations Improvement Act and the Illinois State Police Law. All information and evidence surrounding the incident are being submitted to the St. Clair County State’s Attorney’s Office for review.
In a statement, the ISP emphasized its commitment to transparency, noting the video of the event was released after consultation with the State’s Attorney’s Office. Tarrence’s family was given the opportunity to view the footage before it was made public.
Per standard protocol, the trooper involved has been placed on administrative status pending the outcome of the investigation. The ISP is also examining whether there were any violations of department policies, rules of conduct, or training standards related to the incident.
