LINCOLN -- John and Teresa Newlun of Lincoln are glad to be alive, but now they say they really need their bullet-riddled pickup truck back.

Police officers shot a man riding with John Newlun in his Ford F-150 the night of July 20 at the corner of Decatur and Kickapoo streets. Authorities said the man, identified as Michael "Tattoo" Knuth, 32, of Lincoln, pointed a gun at them.

Logan County State's Attorney Michael McIntosh said he sympathizes with the Newluns, but he has to keep the truck for now because it is evidence.

"I understand their situation, and it's not fair," McIntosh said. "They were innocent victims and their vehicle was involved in something terrible. But unfortunately, there's not much we can do."

John Newlun said he was giving a stranger who came to their door a ride home about 8 p.m. July 20 when policed pulled him over. John Newlun got out of the truck before Knuth pointed his gun at Police Chief Stuart Erlenbush and Patrolman Michael Fruge, prompting them to shoot Knuth multiple times, authorities said.

Knuth was hospitalized for a time with wounds to the neck, arm and leg, police said. Now jailed in lieu of posting $100,000, Knuth is expected to appear in court Monday on charges of attempted murder and aggravated discharge of a firearm.

"On the night of the shooting, two different officers told me I would probably be able to get my truck back the next day after the bullets were removed," John Newlun said. "I didn't really expect it on the day after the shooting, but then we started calling on Wednesday and Thursday of that week and nobody had any answers."

McIntosh said he can't release the truck until defense attorneys have had a chance to review the evidence. Knuth has no attorney yet, but a public defender is expected to be appointed Monday.

"If we were to turn that truck loose and we lose the case because the defense wasn't able to review evidence, we would have a problem," McIntosh said.

The Newluns already have received a check from their insurance company to pay for the damages, which include eight bullet dents, a shot-out window and blood stains and bullet holes in the front seat.

Even though Teresa Newlun also has a car, they say they need the truck because both of their fathers are seriously ill.

"He needs the truck because he could be called away at any moment and the state's attorney's office knows all of this," Teresa Newlun said.

"It's not like we did anything," she said. "We didn't use it as a battering ram against the police department. We were the victims."

The Illinois attorney general's office has an Illinois Crime Victim Compensation Program, which provides direct financial assistance to innocent victims of violent crime. It hasn't provided any assistance in this case yet, however.

"We would have to have the full details of the incident before we could make a recommendation," said Natalie Bauer, a spokeswoman with the office.

But the Newluns say they aren't looking for financial assistance. All they want is the truck.