Police officer found fatally shot near Carpentersville

Illinois state police are investigating the death of an officer who was discovered shot in a Kane County field early Tuesday afternoon.

Trooper Joshua Newnam, a first-year officer assigned to Illinois State Police Tollway District 15, was found in an empty field near Huntley and Boyer Roads outside of Carpentersville, said Illinois State Police Master Sgt. Juan Valenzuela.

Newnam was suffering from a gunshot wound when discovered at about 1 p.m., Valenzuela said. It's unclear if the trooper tried to take his own life or if his gun went off accidentally, striking the officer, he said.

Newnam, a resident of Elgin, was taken from the field to Provena St. Joseph Hospital in Elgin before being airlifted to Advocate Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge, Valenzuela said.

He was pronounced dead at 9:05 p.m. at Lutheran General, Valenzuela said.

The incident remains under investigation, he added.