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$2.5 million bail for Schaumburg woman charged with attempted murder of police

A 31-year-old woman who was shot after she fired at officers in Schaumburg is charged with attempted murder of a police officer.

Tamekka Broyles, who authorities say was shot in the elbow and shoulder during the Aug. 1 standoff, was ordered held on a $2.5 million bail Friday after a hearing before Cook County Judge Joseph Cataldo, who said he believed Broyles was a danger to herself and to police.

The defendant shot at a police vehicle "with no concern for the safety of those officers or anyone else who may have been on that street," Cataldo said.

Assistant Public Defender Melinda Rosales later said Friday that Broyles had no history of violence.

Broyles, who appeared in court wearing a sling on her left arm, was also charged with aggravated assault and aggravated discharge of a firearm. She faces a minimum 40-year sentence if convicted.

Cook County assistant state's attorney Maria McCarthy said Broyles was at work Saturday when her estranged wife texted her, saying she wanted to end their relationship. That evening, Broyles took a handgun from a safe in their bedroom, loaded it and sat on the floor drinking whiskey, McCarthy said. Broyles later called 911, telling the dispatcher she had a weapon and intended to kill herself, McCarthy said.

After arriving at the apartment about 7:45 p.m., Schaumburg officers learned from Broyles' wife that Broyles was inside with a gun. From the galley kitchen where they took cover, the officers saw Broyles sitting down pointing the gun at herself, McCarthy said.

Broyles ignored officers' orders to put down her weapon and asked if they would shoot her if she pointed her gun at them, McCarthy said. In an attempt to defuse the situation, the officers told Broyles they didn't want to hurt her and one of them stepped out of the kitchen.

They left without firing their weapons after Broyles pointed her gun directly at one of the officers, McCarthy said.

Officers from the Northern Illinois Police Alarm System arrived, parked an armored truck facing Broyles' second-floor balcony and ordered her to "remain calm and put the gun down," McCarthy said.

She said Broyles crawled toward the sliding glass doors leading to the balcony and fired several shots from inside the apartment. No one was injured and police did not return fire, McCarthy said.

Other officers from NIPAS, a suburban mutual aid policing agency, took up positions in a stairwell 10 feet from Broyles' front door, McCarthy said. They remained there for three to four hours while a negotiating team talked to Broyles on the phone.

Shortly before midnight, Broyles opened her apartment door, pointed her gun at two NIPAS officers and fired, McCarthy said. Neither officer was hit, McCarthy said.

One returned fire, striking Broyles twice. Another, armed with a bean bag rifle, also fired, striking Broyles in the leg.

Police apprehended Broyles moments later and took her to Lutheran General Hospital, where she underwent surgery for gunshot wounds, McCarthy said.

In a statement to police, Broyles said she pointed her weapon at the first officers on the scene and told them she intended to shoot them so they would shoot back at her, McCarthy said.

Broyles, who has misdemeanor convictions for DUI and disorderly conduct in Michigan, must post $250,000 to be released from custody. She next appears in court on Aug. 28.

• Daily Herald staff writer Eric Peterson contributed to this story.

Schaumburg police shooting still under review Monday

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