Teen killed by Belleville officer had fatal heart condition, friend says

— Police early Thursday morning confirmed the name of a Belleville Police officer involved in a shooting Wednesday.

Dusty Kallal is the officer, Belleville Police Chief William Clay confirmed about 12:30 a.m. Thursday.

Kallal and former Belleville Police detective Mike Boyne received the call before 10 a.m. Wednesday that two suspects were kicking cars and damaging a window at Foley's Tavern, 7714 W. Main St. in Belleville, police said. Kallal shot Eric Gonzales, 19, who was originally from St. Louis but was living in Belleville with his girlfriend, according to police and Gonzales's sister.

Gonzales's former friend, Amy Cooper, said he had health issues.

"He told me he had a terminal heart condition and stopped treatment because he wanted to live his life to the fullest without surgery," Cooper said Thursday.

Gonzales's Facebook page talks about his love of music, his fiancee and heroin: "I am looking for my friend H E R O I N E. Anybody know her? Sexy (expletive deleted) knows how to treat me right."

An autopsy is scheduled for Thursday, according to the St. Clair County Coroner. Toxicology reports aren't immediately available.

Kallal, 33, was appointed a Belleville Police officer on May 20, 2004.

In 2007, Kallal worked with canine Zeus. The dog uncovered 10 grams of crack cocaine, or $800 in street value, $17,000 in cash and a loaded handgun in the center console of a suspect's car. In 2010, Kallal was on the list of the top five Belleville officers for writing tickets, warnings and field interview reports.

More recently, Kallal assisted officer Anthony Branchini when Fairview Heights Police Sgt. James Krummrich was arrested for driving under the influence March 17 after a two-car crash.

Kallal's records with the Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board indicate his firearms training on Aug. 6, 2004, resulted in scores of 94 on the written portion and a 98 on the practical test. He's received additional training in working on a crisis intervention team, breath alcohol testing and handling blood pathogens and hazardous materials.

Kallal's Facebook page lists him as a 1997 graduate of Southwestern High School in Piasa and a 2001 graduate of McKendree University with a sociology major and emphasis in criminal justice. He lists himself as being engaged.

Gonzales was shot after a short foot chase from Foley's near 78th Street down West Main to the 76th Street area. St. Clair County Coroner Rick Stone said the teen was shot once in the chest and died at 10:32 a.m. at Memorial Hospital in Belleville.

Boyne was on West Main serving subpoenas for the St. Clair County Public Defender's office when he was asked to help police, Public Defender John O'Gara said. He works as an investigator for that office after retiring from the Belleville Police.

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