The Lake County Major Crime Task Force is investigating a police-involved shooting of a man armed with a sledgehammer who battered two women.
Police officers, firefighters and paramedics from the Round Lake Police Department and the Greater Round Lake Fire Protection District responded about 3:15 p.m. Wednesday, October 25, 2023 for a report of a domestic battery in progress with a deadly weapon in the block of 2000 Redwood Drive in Round Lake Beach.
Police learned that an offender was battering people with a sledge hammer inside a home. Round Lake Beach police officer were successful in attempting to extract two female victims, who were with substantial head injuries, according to Lake County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Chief Chris Covelli. They were located in the garage of the home. Both victims, adult women, had injuries consistent with being struck in the face and head with a blunt force object.
Police simultaneously attempted to make contact with the suspect, and the offender aggressively advanced toward police officers with the sledge hammer in his hand.
After removing both victims from the scene to an awaiting ambulance, Round Lake Beach Officers walked to the front door of the home. The front door was on an elevated porch, which required the use of a concrete stairway. When officers arrived at the front door, the offender, an adult male, was located just inside the doorway, armed with a sledgehammer. The man refused to drop the sledgehammer and lunged toward officers.
A deployed Taser was ineffective.
One officer deployed an Electronic Control Device (ECD; commonly known as a Taser), however, the ECD was ineffective. It is unknown at this time if one or both of the ECD probes did not make contact with the offender when discharged.
One police officer used a shield to push the offender back and allow other police officers to retreat. The police officers moved off of the stairway in an effort to create distance, but the offender lunged again toward officers with the sledgehammer. The offender continued to advance and raised the sledge hammer while appearing to focus on one specific police officer. The offender then gripped the sledgehammer with two hands and raised it, moving toward an officer in close proximity. At least one Round Lake Beach police officer then shot the offender, who collapsed at the scene. Emergency aid was rendered by police officer until paramedics took over medical care.
The offender was transported to a hospital, where he was pronounced deceased. The identity of the offender was not initially released.
An autopsy is being scheduled, according to Lake County Major Crime Task Force spokesman Deputy Chief Christopher Covelli.
The Lake County Major Crime Task Force was requested to the scene, and evidence data collection began, and will be reviewed by Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office for a decision regarding justification of the police-involved shooting.
The two female victims battered with the sledge hammer were transported by paramedics to a hospital with serious injuries. Their conditions at the hospital were not initially provided.
The offender was transported to a hospital, as mentioned, where he died.
Also, three Round Lake Beach police officers were transported to the hospital, as is protocol, for assessment related to police officer-involved shootings.
There were several prior incidents involving the offender with police interaction, according to Covelli.
The entire incident transpired within approximately five minutes, according to Covelli.
Per state law and department protocol, the Lake County Major Crime Task Force is at the scene conducting an independent investigation. The investigation remains ongoing.
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