St. Clair County deputy shoots armed suspect after reported stabbing in Swansea

UPDATE 1/12/26: Illinois State Police released information clarifying the location of where this incident occurred.

A St. Clair County sheriff’s deputy shot an armed suspect following a reported stabbing early Sunday morning, according to a news release from Illinois State Police.

Deputies responded at about 7:15 a.m. to a domestic incident involving the alleged stabbing of a person in the 2800 block of Old Collinsville Road. While investigating, deputies observed a person walking in the roadway near the residence while displaying a firearm, state police said.

A deputy fired their service weapon, striking the suspect once. Deputies struggled with the suspect while attempting to make an arrest, according to the release.

The suspect was transported to a local hospital for treatment of their wounds. No deputies were injured, police said.

The St. Clair County Sheriff’s Department requested the assistance of the Illinois State Police Division of Criminal Investigation Zone 6 to investigate the officer-involved shooting.

Neither the suspect nor the deputy have been identified. Contacted by the Belleville News-Democrat via email for confirmation of the reported stabbing, the state police public affairs office replied that the investigation remained open and no additional information would be released.

In a Facebook post late Sunday afternoon, the sheriff’s department said “the caller advised that a male family member had attacked relatives at the home with a knife, causing significant injuries.”

This is a developing story. More information will be reported as it becomes available.

The incident marks the second officer-involved shooting of the new year in the metro-east. On Jan. 4, Rachel E. Tarrence, 40, of Maryville, was fatally shot by an Illinois State Police trooper in East St. Louis after officials said she crashed a stolen vehicle into a police cruiser.

This story was originally published January 11, 2026 at 12:35 PM.