MOMENCE, Ill. — Authorities are investigating the homicide of a 30-year-old woman found shot to death inside a bar in rural Momence near the Illinois–Indiana state line. The victim was identified as Courtney M. Drysdale, the owner of The Line, located along Illinois Route 114, according to the Kankakee County Sheriff’s Office.
Deputies were dispatched shortly before noon on Monday, February 2, 2026, after receiving reports of a possible deceased individual inside the bar. Upon arrival, officers discovered Drysdale unresponsive inside her business. Emergency responders confirmed that she had been fatally shot, and she was pronounced dead at the scene. Based on initial evidence, sheriff’s detectives immediately classified the case as a homicide.
During a press conference Tuesday, Kankakee County Sheriff Mike Downey provided details of the crime. Investigators said the suspect entered the bar as Drysdale was opening for the day, brandished a firearm, and demanded money. Although Drysdale complied, the suspect shot her twice, in what Sheriff Downey described as an execution-style attack. The suspect also attempted to remove a video recording device, but surveillance footage captured the incident.
After the shooting, the suspect fled the scene in a white BMW sedan heading toward Indiana. Law enforcement released images of both the suspect and the vehicle to the public, seeking tips to help identify and locate the individual responsible. Authorities said the collaboration of residents and multiple agencies would be critical in solving the case quickly.
Roughly 26 hours after the murder, law enforcement from Hammond, Indiana, and Illinois converged near the 6500 and 6700 blocks of Rhode Island Avenue. At around 1 p.m. on February 3, authorities apprehended a person of interest exiting a residence. The suspect was later identified as 47-year-old Julius E. Burkes Jr. He was taken into custody without incident and is currently being held in Indiana pending an extradition hearing to Illinois.
Sheriff Downey praised the coordinated efforts of local, state, and federal law enforcement, as well as assistance from the public, for the swift and peaceful apprehension of the suspect. Authorities continue to investigate the case, seeking additional evidence and tips from the community. Anyone with information is urged to contact the Kankakee County Sheriff’s Office at (815) 802-7150 or Crime Stoppers at (815) 93-CRIME to assist in the ongoing investigation.
