Ill. State Police probe deadly hostage standoff

PINCKNEYVILLE -- Illinois State Police are investigating circumstances involving a southern Illinois prison inmate taking an employee hostage before the prisoner was shot and killed by authorities.

The Illinois Department of Corrections on Tuesday identified 37-year-old Alonje Walton as the inmate involved in the previous day's nearly seven-hour standoff at the Pinckneyville Correctional Center in Perry County.

The 62-year-old female employee who was taken hostage was rescued and evaluated by medical personnel.

Corrections officials say the offender was serving a sentence for aggravated criminal sexual assault and aggravated kidnapping. The crimes took place in Cook County.

Results of an autopsy Tuesday on Walton weren't immediately available.