On September 23rd, 1987, Rockford police officer Dennis Nielsen was off duty inside his home off Daisyfield Road in Rockford, Illinois.
Just after midnight, Nielsen’s dog began to bark which led to Nielsen looking out the window to see someone running.
His dog began barking again as there appeared to be a commotion coming from behind the house. Nielsen grabbed a gun just before three individuals broke in through the back door.
The off duty cop shot one of the intruders in the right leg which led to all of them fleeing. They were all unarmed at the time.
Later on, Jerome Lottie went to Rockford Memorial Hospital with a gunshot wound to his upper leg. The hospital staff called the Winnebago County Sheriff’s Office to inform them of the gunshot victim. Deputies arrived and arrested Lottie.
Jerome Lottie Jr. was 20 years old at the time. Jerome passed in 2015 at the age of 57.
A copy of Jerome’s obituary:
Jerome Lottie Jr., 57, of Rockford departed this life Jan. 21, 2015, after a long illness. He was born Nov. 21, 1957, in Maryanna, Ark., to Alberta Evans and Jerome Lottie. He lived in Rockford since 1983, coming from Chicago. He worked for Rayner Coving for 20 years and became disabled in 2008. He loved working on cars and spending time with his family. He attended Manley High School and was a member of Greater Faith. Jerome leaves to cherish many loving memories, the mother of his children, Delorse Daniels; two sons, Jerome (Susan) Lottie, and Jermaine Daniels; two daughters, Sherone and April Daniels; and a host of grandchildren; his first great-grandbaby on the way; parents, Alberta and William Evans; brothers, Johnny (Ramona), Jeffery (Latrease), Russell (Priscilla) and Ricky Lottie; sisters, Delorse (Tyrone) Pearson, Pamela Lottie, Donna Lottie; and two step sisters, Sheila Brown and Willamay Bonney. Predeceased in death by his father, Jerome Lottie, Carol and Pacilla Lottie.