A Shelbyville man is finally in custody following a six plus hour standoff on Monday. It all began when he allegedly beat his father and pointed a gun at his mother inside the family’s home. The standoff/emergency alert was reported around 10:30 a.m. this morning.
The Shelby County Sheriff’s Office was called to a home along County Highway 36 and County Road 1800E, directly south of Shelbyville around 8:45 a.m. today. When deputies arrived, Hennings’ mother had already fled the home and frantically called 911. She told law enforcement that 31 year old Travis Hennings had beaten his own father inside their home and pointed a firearm at her before she was able to escape. Hennings’ dad was still inside when law enforcement arrived, and when he eventually made it out of the home, he was bleeding from the head and was transported to a local hospital for treatment.
Sheriff Brian McReynolds was clear that despite the tense circumstances, this was NOT a hostage situation. “He had pointed a firearm at a member of the household and was in a mental health crisis,” McReynolds said. Law enforcement shifted its focus to communicating with Hennings and working to bring the situation to a peaceful end.
The standoff stretched through the morning and well into the afternoon. County Road 1800 E was closed to traffic for much of the day as Illinois State Police tactical teams and crisis negotiators assisted the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office on scene. After hours of communication, Hennings was talked down and surrendered to law enforcement around 3:30 p.m. without any further trouble.
Hennings was taken to a hospital for evaluation following his surrender and may remain there if staff determine a psychiatric hold is necessary. He is expected to face a charge of aggravated domestic battery. County Road 1800 E has since reopened.
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