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.
WARNING: The attached link contains footage and audio that could be disturbing to some viewers. The full video can be viewed HERE on 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.
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.
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.