Woman charged in murder of police sergeant in Illinois

In December 2021, in Kankakee County, Illinois, police officers confronted Xandria Harris and her boyfriend, Darius Sullivan, regarding barking dogs. During the encounter, Sullivan shot Officer Tyler Bailey in the head and then fatally shot Sgt. Marlene Rittmanic after disarming her. Officer Bailey survived but was critically injured, spending nearly a year in rehabilitation. The trial for Harris has commenced, where she faces charges related to the murder of Sgt. Rittmanic and the shooting of Officer Bailey.

Woman charged in murder of police sergeant in Illinois
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society Published Aug 7, 2026

Topic overview

In brief

  • In December 2021, police officers confronted Xandria Harris and Darius Sullivan about barking dogs.
  • Darius Sullivan shot Officer Tyler Bailey and then killed Sgt. Marlene Rittmanic.
  • The trial for Xandria Harris has begun, focusing on her alleged involvement in the murders.

Summary

In December 2021, a tragic incident unfolded in Kankakee County, Illinois, when police officers confronted Xandria Harris and her then-boyfriend, Darius Sullivan, regarding a report of barking dogs. The officers, Bradley Police Sgt. Marlene Rittmanic and Officer Tyler Bailey, approached the couple at their hotel room. During this encounter, Darius Sullivan unexpectedly emerged and shot Officer Bailey in the head, leaving him critically injured. Following this, Sullivan pursued Sgt. Rittmanic down the hallway, disarmed her, and fatally shot her as she lay on the floor. Officer Bailey survived but faced a long recovery, spending nearly a year in a rehabilitation hospital. The trial for Xandria Harris has begun, where she is accused of aiding in the murder of Sgt. Rittmanic and the shooting of Officer Bailey. The case has drawn significant attention due to the violent nature of the crime and the impact on the local community, highlighting the dangers faced by law enforcement officers in the line of duty. As the trial progresses, the prosecution aims to establish Harris's involvement in the events that led to the tragic deaths and injuries, while the defense will likely argue her level of culpability.

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Updated Aug 7, 2026

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