Illinois police officer's heartbreaking pleas for her life before being murdered with her own service pistol: 'You don't have to do this!'

A disarmed Illinois police officer desperately begged for her life before a heartless thug executed her with her own gun, state officials say.

Sgt. Marlene Rittmanic, 49, was murdered in cold blood on Dec. 29 as she and Officer Tyler Bailey, 27, investigated a noise complaint at a Bradley-area motel.

Bailey was hospitalized after being shot during the attack and is fighting for his life.

What are the details?

Authorities arrested 25-year-old Darius Sullivan and 26-year-old Xandria Harris in connection with the incident.

Jim Rowe, Kankakee County state’s attorney, is pushing federal officials to consider the death penalty for both Sullivan and Harris if convicted, even though Illinois does not perform executions.

Rittmanic and Bailey were responding to noise complaint at the Comfort Inn parking lot in Bradley, where dogs in a car were said to be barking loudly.

According to the Kansas City Star, the police soon determined that the vehicle belonged to Harris and were directed to her room by hotel staffers.

The Star reported that the officers knocked and identified themselves as police officers, telling Harris to open the door. After about 14 minutes, prosecutors said, she finally came out but tried to stop Rittmanic and Bailey from entering the room and arresting Sullivan, who had several warrants out for his arrest.

As the officers told Harris to move out of the way, Sullivan allegedly appeared with a 9mm pistol loaded with a high-capacity drum magazine in his hands.

He then reportedly shot Bailey in the head before opening fire on Rittmanic, striking her once before she escaped and ran down the hall to call for backup.

Harris then reportedly chased the officer and engaged her in a struggle.

According to the Star's report, prosecutors say that Sullivan's pistol had jammed, and he tried to clear it with one hand while attempting to take Rittmanic's service pistol with his other. When Harris got involved, Sullivan was able to take Rittmanic's gun from her.

Rittmanic then began pleading with Sullivan and Harris not to kill her.

"Sgt. Rittmanic was pleading with them to 'just leave, you don’t have to do this, please just go, please don’t, please don't,'" Rowe explained. "She was desperately pleading for her life."

Despite her pleas, Sullivan allegedly shot Rittmanic twice in the neck with her own gun.

He and Harris then reportedly fled the scene and went on the run until investigators closed in on the suspects later in the week and arrested the pair at a home in North Manchester, Indiana.

Authorities have charged the pair with first-degree murder of a police officer and attempted first-degree murder of a police officer.

The two are being held without bail.

What else?

Documents obtained by Fox News show that Rittmanic joined the Bradley Police Department in 2007 and was promoted to sergeant in 2014.

A Facebook post from the Bradley Police Department stated that Rittmanic is a 21-year law enforcement veteran and is survived by her wife, Lyn Stua of Kankakee, and her father, James Rittmanic of Naperville, as well as siblings, nieces, nephews, and her beloved pets.

"Marlene believed in people and her ability to speak to the community with respect; meet them where they are in life; try to understand their true needs; and work together to find a solution that produced the least disruption in people’s lives," the post said. "To her — the job was about making the community safe for everyone, she believed and I’m quoting her, 'just because you can, doesn’t mean you should.' She was awarded Law Enforcement Officer of the Year in 2020."