Britten James Frederick Clankie was a 16-year-old student at Freeport High School who was fatally shot on May 20, 2021, in the 400 block of South Beaver Avenue in Freeport. Officers responded to reports of shots fired around 9:35 p.m.; Britten was found with a gunshot wound, taken to FHN Memorial Hospital, and pronounced dead. The Stephenson County Coroner’s Office later confirmed the cause of death as a gunshot wound.

Investigators identified two persons of interest, a juvenile male and an adult male, and have asked the public for information. No arrests have been reported and the case remained unsolved as of the latest available details. Britten’s family and community held a memorial service on May 27, 2021, to remember his bright smile and positive demeanor.

If anyone has information about the shooting or saw activity in the area that night, please come forward to assist the investigation.