Charges have been filed against a man who was critically injured after being shot by a SWAT team after he allegedly took a woman hostage at knifepoint in Round Lake last week.
The Round Lake Police Department responded around 6:35 p.m. on September 19 to the 700 block of North Park Road in Round Lake for an unknown problem call.
A 911 caller asked for the police but hung up before dispatchers could ask additional questions, according to Lake County Major Crime Task Force Spokesman Christopher Covelli.
Officers arrived and located a woman outside of the home. She told officers there was a woman in the basement of the home who needed help.
Covelli said officers knocked on the door and the homeowner answered and allowed officers inside.
The homeowner told officers there was a 33-year-old man and a 30-year-old woman who live in the downstairs basement apartment of the home.
Officers approached a basement door and could hear what sounded like people in the basement.
The police officers attempted to speak to the couple through the door in an attempt to determine the problem, Covelli said.
A police officer on the outside of the home looked through a basement window at the same time and saw the man holding a knife to the woman’s neck.
The man was later identified as Gerzin Ramirez-Perez, 33, of Round Lake.
Covelli said officers attempted to de-escalate the situation but Ramirez-Perez continued holding the knife to the woman and refused to put the knife down or let the victim go.
The Northern Illinois Police Alarm System (NIPAS) Emergency Services Team, a regional SWAT team, was requested to the scene.
Members of NIPAS arrived and attempted de-escalation techniques and negotiations to rescue the hostage and peacefully resolve the situation, Covelli said.
Spanish linguists were on the scene to lead the communication efforts with the Spanish-speaking victim and suspect.
Ramirez-Perez reportedly grew increasingly agitated and refused to drop the knife or follow any of the instructions requested by the SWAT team.
The victim was at substantial risk of being killed or seriously injured, Covelli said.
Two members of the SWAT team fired their guns, striking Ramirez-Perez.
The SWAT team was able to rescue the victim from the man’s grip following the shooting.
Police officers provided aid to Ramirez-Perez until nearby paramedics arrived.
Ramirez-Perez was transported to an area hospital with critical injuries, Covelli said.
The victim sustained minor injuries during the attack and was evaluated by paramedics. She declined transport to the hospital.
The two officers involved in the shooting were transported to area hospitals for evaluation in accordance with protocol.
Covelli said investigators learned that the first woman police encountered outside of the home was an acquaintance of the victim.
The victim had attempted to contact her while being attacked by Ramirez-Perez.
Evidence, including two knives, was collected from the scene.
A judge on Friday signed an arrest warrant for Ramirez-Perez after the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office reviewed the case and approved charges of aggravated unlawful restraint, a Class 3 felony, and two counts of domestic battery, a Class A misdemeanor.
Ramirez-Perez was released from the hospital on Monday and transported to the Lake County Jail.
The Lake County Major Crime Task Force is conducting an independent investigation into the officer-involved shooting.