A man was fatally shot and a woman was also shot after the man reportedly lunged at officers while armed with a knife, prompting officers to open fire in Fox Lake Sunday evening.
Lake County Major Crime Task Force Spokesman Christopher Covelli said Fox Lake police officers received a call for a suspect who damaged a vehicle and threw a golf club at the victim.
The Fox Lake Police Department responded around 11:10 p.m. Sunday to a residence in the 0-100 block of Howard Avenue in Fox Lake where the suspect was believed to be at an acquaintance’s home.
The victim wished to pursue charges against the suspect, a 47-year-old Wauconda man, Covelli said.
Two Fox Lake police officers located the suspect at his acquaintance’s home on Howard Avenue.
Officers told the man he was under arrest. The man pulled a knife out of his pocket and pointed it toward the police officers, Covelli said.
The two Fox Lake police officers ordered the man to drop the knife.
“Instead of dropping the knife, the man lunged toward one of the police officers with the knife drawn,” Covelli said.
Both police officers shot at the man and he was struck by the gunfire.
The man’s acquaintance, a 43-year-old woman, who resides at the residence, was struck in the leg with one of the rounds discharged by officers.
The suspect collapsed and officers called for paramedics and rendered aid, Covelli said. The man was pronounced dead at the scene.
Police officers also rendered aid to the woman until she was transported to an area hospital for treatment.
She is expected to be released from the hospital later Monday.
The Fox Lake Police Department requested the assistance of the Lake County Major Crime Task Force due to department protocol and state law.
The task force will conduct an independent investigation into the officer-involved shooting, Covelli said.
Following the investigation, all data, evidence and information collected will be turned over to the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office for review.
The Lake County Coroner’s Office has scheduled an autopsy for Tuesday on the 47-year-old man, whose identity is being withheld.