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Police Had Suspect After Capitol Shooting but Let Him Go

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(UPI file photo)
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Potts is charged with first-degree murder in the shooting.

By AP/KWMU

Springfield, Ill – More details are surfacing about the events before and after the fatal shooting of an unarmed security guard at the Illinois Capitol this week.

Prosecutors in Springfield have charged 24-year-old Derek Potts with first-degree murder in the death of William Wozniak, who was shot once in the chest Monday afternoon.

The Chicago Sun-Times reports that sign-in logs that day show that Potts visited the Statehouse that morning before returning later that afternoon.

The State Journal-Register reported Thursday that Springfield police apprehended Potts about 40 minutes after the slaying, but let him go. It took authorities another 17 hours to track Potts down and arrest him.

Springfield Deputy Police Chief Jim Burton says the department is investigating to determine if procedures were followed.

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