Police from Highland Park responded about 4:55 a.m. Friday, June 20, 2025 to a report of a lying in the roadway in the block of 900 Half Day Road Highland Park. According to the Lake County Major Crime Task Force, police received a call from a concerned driver who reported someone was lying in the roadway and was nearly struck by a vehicle. The caller stated the individual then stood up and stumbled into a residence in the 900 block of Half Day Road.
Three Highland Park police officers responded to the scene, but did not locate the man outside. Police officers knocked on the door of the address provided by the caller. A man, identified as a 59-year-old male who lived at the residence, abruptly exited the home armed with a knife, according to the Lake County Major Crime Task Force. The policle officers immediately retreated and gave the man multiple instructions to drop the knife. However, the man allegedly advanced toward them with the knife raised. He continued charging at the officers, threatening them with the knife. The officers subsequently discharged their firearms, striking the man.
Police officers immediately rendered life-saving aid, and requested police respond to the scene. Despite the efforts of the Highland Park police officers and paramedics, the man was pronounced deceased at the scene.
Highland Park firefighters and paramedics responded about 5:00 a.m. and arrived within about four minutes. An additional Highland Park ambulance and a Deefield-Bannockburn ambulance were dispatched about 5:15 a.m. Fire command reported three ambulances were transporting by about 5:44 a.m. The 59 year-old male was pronounced dead at the scene.
The Lake County Coroner’s Office responded and is scheduling an autopsy.
In accordance with state law and department protocol, the Lake County Major Crime Task Force is conducting an independent investigation. The investigation remains ongoing.
The crime scene is located on Half Day Road near a location where Half Day Road becomes Prairie Avenue between Greenwood Avenue and Western Avenue in northern Highland Park near the border with Highwood, Illinois.
Thru-traffic was blocked on Half Day Road/Prairie Road between Summit Avenue and Western Avenue, and crime scene was still active at 9:45 a.m.
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