Two Illinois State Police [ISP] troopers who returned fire on an armed suspect at a Lexington gas station last year have received the Law Enforcement Medal of Honor.
Master Sgt. Billy Quinn and Sgt. Benjamin Reichard were among 19 officers from police agencies across the state to receive the honor Thursday at a ceremony in Springfield.
The officers responded to a license plate reader alert of a stolen vehicle on Interstate 74 on the morning of Feb. 6, 2025.
State Police Chief of Staff Major Todd Hartman said the officers were alerted the vehicle had just been used in an aggravated robbery with a firearm and the two suspects in the vehicle both had active warrants out for their arrest.
Hartman said the officers found the vehicle at a Lexington gas station and approached to arrest the suspects, when one of them — later identified as 18-year-old Ryan Aeron Stanley Hurst of Arkansas — pulled a gun from the vehicle and fired at Reichard.
Both officers returned fire, hitting the suspect multiple times.
“We are grateful for the decisive actions of these officers. They are commended for their bravery and heroism in arresting these two dangerous criminals,” Hartman said during the ceremony.
ISP said the officers provided medical care, and the suspect survived his injuries. The other suspect, who had gone inside the gas station, was arrested without incident.
State police later released body camera footage of the incident.
Hurst faces attempted murder and other weapons charges. He has a pretrial hearing scheduled for June 25 in McLean County Circuit court.
All Medal of Honor recipients are selected by the Law Enforcement Medal of Honor Committee, chaired by State Police Director Brendan Kelly.
“It’s difficult to review many of these cases, but it also renews our faith in humanity and our gratitude to the brave men and women who are willing to sacrifice their own well being for justice and for public safety,” Kelly said during the ceremony.
