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Ill. police fatally shoot man who was wielding chainsaw in assisted living facility

The man had entered the building’s lobby and reportedly confronted residents with the power tool before the shooting occurred

By Adriana Pérez
Chicago Tribune

ST. CHARLES, Ill. —A man was shot dead Sunday by St. Charles police as he wielded a chainsaw and threatened residents of an assisted living facility, according to authorities.

Around 8:45 a.m. Sunday, dispatch officers with the police department responded to a welfare check on the property of the River Glen of St. Charles in Kane County, at 975 N. 5th Ave. Witnesses had reported a shirtless man trying to cut down a tree with a chainsaw.

Shortly before police arrived, the man had entered the building’s lobby and reportedly confronted residents with the power tool. The responding officers attempted to de-escalate the situation but were unable to do so, police said, as the man continued his threats.

The attacker was shocked with a TASER but didn’t stop, according to St. Charles police, so an officer fired his service weapon and struck the suspect. Despite emergency assistance efforts, the man was pronounced dead after being transported to Northwestern Medicine Delnor Hospital in Geneva. He had yet to be identified by authorities Sunday evening pending notification of next of kin.

Some residents of the facility and responding officers received treatment on the scene for minor injuries.

Per protocol, the Illinois State Police announced Sunday that its Division of Criminal Investigation is leading an inquiry into the shooting. Afterward, the state police will turn its findings in to the Kane County state’s attorney’s office for an independent review of the facts.

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