ROCKFORD — A Rockford man was arrested after allegedly shooting another man inside his home, and after falsely reporting that the victim broke into his house, police said.
Phillip Ray Tucker Jr., 56, of the 2800 block of Sewell Street, was arrested Saturday after shooting the man in the head, Rockford police Lt. Kurt Whisenand said in a new release Saturday afternoon.
The unidentified 56-year-old man who was shot was hospitalized in critical condition, Whisenand said.
According to police:
Tucker first reported that the 56-year-old man broke into his home, after which Tucker shot him.
Officers sent to Tucker’s home at 12:14 a.m. Saturday learned that he knew the man and shot him during a dispute.
Police did not describe the dispute or explain how the men are acquainted.
Tucker is being held in the Winnebago County Jail without bond. He is scheduled to appear in court Monday.
Winnebago County court records show Tucker last was charged with a crime in 2014.
Prosecutors at that time charged him with misdemeanor offenses of possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia. He pleaded guilty to the drug paraphernalia count, and in December 2015 was sentenced to 12 months on conditional discharge. This type of sentence means Tucker had to comply with certain conditions in order to stay out of jail.
Records show Tucker also has been cited for various traffic offenses, such as speeding, improper lane use and leaving the scene of a crash.
Kristen Zambo: 815-987-1339; kzambo@rrstar.com; @KristenZambo