On October 15th, 1999, a woman called 911 to report a domestic violence incident at around 10:30 p.m.
Rockford police officers responded to the area of McLain Ave to speak with the woman.
RPD officer Joseph Danforth seen Levi Jones walking down the street near Ashley Avenue. Danforth reportedly chased down Levi and asked him to identify himself.
Levi gave his name which Danforth knew as the suspect of the domestic incident and he was told that Levi was carrying a gun.
Levi’s brother said he had spoken to Levi and he said that when Danforth told him to raise his hands, he did as he was told.
The jacket that was in his hands with the gun inside of it dropped to the ground as Levi raised his hands. Danforth shot once hitting Levi in the stomach.
Rockford Register Star reporter Bert Dalmer reported that earlier in 1999, Danforth had been suspended for ten days after an off duty incident where he beat and kicked the the door of a woman he thought was responsible for a car accident involving his mother.
About the shooting, Danforth said he shot after he told Levi to put his hands up and Levi had his hands inside his coat.
This was the second Rockford Police shooting in 1999.
This was the fifteenth police shooting in Winnebago County in the 1990’s - all were justified.