Latest news with #DanielEscalera
Yahoo
21-03-2025
- Yahoo
Officers cleared in fatal shooting of chainsaw-wielding man at Illinois nursing home
ST. CHARLES, Ill. (WGN) — An investigation into a deadly shooting involving police and a chainsaw-wielding man in west suburban St. Charles, Illinois, late last year has found no wrongdoing on the part of the officers. ISP's website. The shooting unfolded at around 8:45 a.m. on Sunday, Dec. 21, 2024, inside the senior living facility River Glen of St. Charles, after authorities received a call about a man, who was later identified as 41-year-old Daniel Escalera, wielding a chainsaw as he entered the facility. Escalera, a Stockwell, Indiana, resident, was fatally shot by police during the encounter. According to Kane County State's Attorney Jamie Mosser, St. Charles Police Department officers were dispatched to the scene after they received a call about the man, who was later identified as Escalera. Is Social Security money going to 'millions' of people listed as old as 149? The first officer who arrived on the scene made contact with Escalera as he stood near multiple residents at the doorway to the cafeteria inside the facility and made multiple verbal commands for Escalera to drop the chainsaw as the officer displayed his Taser. But authorities said Escalera refused to drop the chainsaw and instead entered the cafeteria and started it. After starting the chainsaw, the officer deployed his Taser and struck Escalera in the chest. The Taser knocked Escalera down briefly, but he got back up and grabbed the chainsaw before he began running toward the officer. The officer then retreated into the lobby of the facility where they were joined by a second St. Charles police officer. According to officials, both officers ran back into the cafeteria while a third officer followed Escalera through a secondary doorway of the cafeteria and back into the lobby, where Escalera then held the chainsaw over his head and ran toward the officer. As Escalera charged toward him, the officer fired two shots, which both missed the suspect. Escalera then collided with the officer, striking him with the chainsaw before he dropped it. Wisconsin man already serving 50 years on child sex charges handed additional 10 years Amid the confrontation, the officer fired a third shot, which hit Escalera in the left forearm, as he fled toward a hallway. The incident continued when Escalera reached the hallway, where he stopped near a resident in a wheelchair and 'held his hands forward in a position which appeared to imitate holding a firearm.' Officials said as Escalera held his arms out, the officer fired a fourth shot, which struck the suspect in the chest. He then collapsed to the ground and was handcuffed by officers before they began providing medical treatment. Escalera was later pronounced dead at the hospital. Following his death, the Kane County Coroner's Office diagnosed Escalera as having methamphetamine intoxication and his cause of death was ascribed to multiple gunshot wounds. Toxicology reports later showed the presence of amphetamines, methamphetamines and the antipsychotic drug olanzapine. Following the shooting, Illinois State Police conducted an investigation and later presented the findings to the Kane County State's Attorney's Office, pursuant to the Police and Community Relations Improvement Act 50 ILCS 727. On Tuesday, the Kane County State's Attorney's Office announced that it had closed its investigation into the deadly shooting and found no wrongdoing on the part of the officers who confronted Escalera. The Kane County State's Attorney's Office reached its conclusion after conducting an examination of body-worn camera audio and video recordings, statements from witnesses, physical evidence from the scene, and the results of an autopsy. Officials said the officer involved in the incident 'had the reasonable belief that the deadly force he employed was necessary to prevent death or great bodily harm to himself or other individuals.' Alongside the findings of its investigation, authorities also released video of the event captured by body-worn cameras. The video shared by authorities contains footage and audio that could be disturbing to some viewers. 'I first want to thank the St. Charles police officers for acting to de-escalate the situations before being forced to resort to the deadly use of force,' Mosser said. 'My thanks also to the Illinois State Police for their diligent and thorough investigation into this incident, and to the Kane County Coroner's Office and the St. Charles Police Department for providing critical support and transparency throughout this process. Every case of an officer-involved shooting must be carefully and thoroughly investigated. This scrutiny maintains the public's confidence in law enforcement and ensures the protection of the civil rights of those involved. After a comprehensive and thorough review of the investigation into this tragic incident, it is clear that the officers here acted in accordance with both department policy and Illinois law. The evidence demonstrates that his actions were appropriate and justified in the circumstances. Acknowledging the tragic loss of life and offering condolences to Mr. Escalera's family, my office has therefore closed the investigation into this matter.' The video of the incident was released after consultation with and authorization by the Kane County State's Attorney and Illinois State Police provided Escalera's family members the opportunity to review the video before its release. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Chicago Tribune
20-03-2025
- Chicago Tribune
No charges for officers in fatal shooting of man wielding chainsaw at St. Charles assisted living facility
The St. Charles police officers involved in the fatal shooting of a man accused of wielding a chainsaw and threatening residents at an assisted living facility will not face criminal charges, according to a joint press release from the Kane County State's Attorney's Office, Illinois State Police and the St. Charles Police Department. The Illinois State Police investigated the Dec. 1, 2024, shooting death of Daniel Escalera, 41, Tuesday's news release said. Officials looked at body-worn camera audio and video, statements from witnesses, physical evidence from the scene and autopsy results, according to the release. The findings were presented to the Kane County State's Attorney's Office, which found no wrongdoing on the part of the officers and closed the review, according to the release. On Dec. 1, 2024, police responded to River Glen of St. Charles at 975 N. Fifth Ave., an assisted living facility in St. Charles, according to past reporting. Escalera had been seen by witnesses trying to cut down a tree with a chainsaw and had entered the facility's lobby and reportedly confronted residents, officials said. The Illinois State Police found that an officer, upon finding Escalera at the doorway to the cafeteria near multiple residents, had shown Escalera his Taser and warned him to drop the chainsaw, Tuesday's release said. Escalera entered the cafeteria and started the chainsaw, according to the release. The officer deployed his Taser, striking Escalera in the chest, officials said. Escalera was briefly knocked down, but then got up and ran toward the officer with the chainsaw, according to the release. At that point, a second St. Charles police officer joined, and a third officer followed Escalera to the facility's cafeteria and back into the building's lobby, according to the release from the state's attorney's office. Escalera charged toward the officer, who fired two shots that missed him, and Escalera collided with the officer and dropped the chainsaw, according to the release. The officer then shot Escalera in the left forearm as he fled, officials said. Escalera stopped near an elderly resident in a wheelchair and held his hands in a position that appeared to imitate holding a gun, according to the release, and the officer shot Escalera in the chest. The officers then provided medical treatment to Escalera, the release said. After paramedics arrived, Escalera was taken to Northwestern Medicine Delnor Hospital in Geneva, where he was pronounced dead shortly after. The coroner's office later attributed the cause of death to gunshot wounds, but toxicology reports found amphetamines, methamphetamines and olanzapine in Escalera's system, according to Tuesday's release. The Kane County State's Attorney's Office ultimately determined that deadly force was necessary to prevent death or great bodily harm to the officers or other individuals present, and therefore will not pursue criminal charges against the officers, according to the release. The video of the shooting is available to the public at The Kane County State's Attorney's Office authorized the release of the video, according to the news release, and the Illinois State Police allowed Escalera's family to review it before it was made public.
