An inmate being held for attempted murder after allegedly shooting a rifle at sheriff’s deputies near Harvard last year has died in custody while awaiting trial.
The McHenry County Sheriff’s Office said Randall B. Little, 59, of Harvard, died on Sunday.
Little, an inmate at the McHenry County Jail, was transported to a hospital concerning his health on October 20.
He was then transferred to a hospice care facility on November 13 and remained there until his death.
The sheriff’s office said Little died due to a terminal illness.
The McHenry County Major Investigation Assistance Team is investigating the death in accordance with state law and sheriff’s office protocol.
Little was charged in April 2022 with armed violence, aggravated intimidation of a peace officer, two counts of felon in possession of a firearm, intimidation, threatening a public official, unlawful use of a weapon, two counts of aggravated assault and unauthorized possession of cannabis sativa plants.
He was later additionally charged with attempted first-degree murder, a Class X felony.
The charges stemmed from a well-being check call that the McHenry County Sheriff’s Office responded to at Little’s residence in the 19900 block of Streit Road in unincorporated Harvard around 8 p.m. April 1, 2022.
Little was armed with a .300 caliber blackout short barrel rifle, according to a criminal complaint filed in McHenry County Circuit Court.
Little pointed the rifle at McHenry County Sheriff’s Deputy Gabriela Valencia and threatened to kill her if she did not leave his property, the complaint said.
Court documents initially said Little only pointed the gun at the deputy, but prosecutors later approved the attempted murder charge against the man and investigators said in court documents that he did discharge the firearm.
McHenry County sheriff’s deputies Christopher Naatz and Trevor Vogel, along with Valencia, all discharged their weapons at Little.
No deputies were injured during the incident.
Lifesaving measures were rendered to Little and he was transported by the Harvard Fire Protection District to Mercyhealth Hospital in Harvard, the sheriff’s office said.
He was then flown to Javon Bea Hospital in Rockford where he was in critical condition.
Little suffered multiple gunshot wounds but survived his injuries, prosecutors said.
Investigators also found Little in possession of more than 50 cannabis sativa plants, court documents show.
The McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office said in June 2022 that Naatz, Valencia and Vogel were justified in firing their weapons based on a review of the evidence.
“While we understand that the use of deadly force by law enforcement officers, the ultimate act of state authority, is a matter of unprecedented national scrutiny and that full transparency is essential to maintaining the public trust in the justice system, in view of the ongoing criminal proceedings against Little alongside the following Supreme Court Rules, we are unable to disclose more at this time,” the state’s attorney’s office said in a statement at the time.
McHenry County Sheriff’s Deputy Kevin Byrnes said the sheriff’s office took Little into custody on May 3, 2022, after he was released from a rehabilitation hospital in Rockford.
McHenry County Judge Tiffany Davis ordered Little held on a $500,000 bond.
He was released in July 2022 after his wife posted $50,000 cash to secure his release, court records show.
Little was arrested while out on bond and charged with two counts of domestic battery, both Class A misdemeanors.
A criminal complaint filed in McHenry County Circuit Court said Little pulled his wife’s hair around 9:15 p.m. on June 10.
Little also caused bodily harm to the woman by striking her in the face with his fist, the complaint said.
The victim suffered bruising to both of her eyes, the complaint said.
Prosecutors said Little was drinking the day of the incident and that the victim suffered an injury to her nose.
Following Little’s domestic battery arrest, prosecutors filed a request to increase Little’s combined bond in his cases to $1 million.
“The defendant is an obvious danger to Mrs. Little, law enforcement and the community at large. He continues to consume alcohol, leading to violent behavior. His bail amount and his bond conditions must be modified to ensure the safety of the community,” prosecutors said in June.
A roommate told deputies that Little told him earlier in the day that he (Little) would be “leaving in a body bag.”
Davis increased Little’s bond to a $750,000 umbrella bond, meaning he would receive credit for the $50,000 cash already posted and would need an additional $25,000 cash in order to be released.
He had been unable to post the remaining amount and remained in custody pending trial up until his death on Sunday.