Officers fatally shot a man after he attacked and injured two women with a sledgehammer and then advanced at a responding officer in Round Lake Beach.
The Round Lake Beach Police Department and Greater Round Lake Fire Protection District responded around 3:15 p.m. Wednesday to the 2000 block of Redwood Drive in Round Lake Beach for a report of a domestic battery in progress involving a deadly weapon.
Lake County Major Crime Task Force Spokesman Christopher Covelli said it was reported that a person armed with a sledgehammer was attacking others inside a home.
Officers arrived and attempted to rescue the victims from inside the home.
They successfully brought two adult women, who had substantial head injuries from being struck with an object, outside of the house, Covelli said.
They were brought across the street to awaiting ambulances nearby for treatment.
Officers simultaneously made contact with the offender inside the home.
Covelli said the suspect was still holding the sledgehammer and aggressively advanced at officers with it near the front porch.
At least one officer deployed a taser in an unsuccessful attempt to subdue the man.
The officers attempted to retreat and the suspect advanced on the officers, Covelli said.
An officer who had a shield used the shield to push the man back.
The suspect took an aggressive stance by raising the sledgehammer, Covelli said. He appeared to focus on one specific officer.
At least one of the Round Lake Beach police officers fired their gun and the offender was struck by the gunfire.
He collapsed at the scene and aid was rendered before paramedics took over care, Covelli said. The suspect was transported to a local hospital and pronounced dead.
The two female victims were also transported to the hospital along with three police officers, who are being evaluated.
Covelli said that the shots were fired approximately five minutes after officers arrived.
The Lake County Major Crime Task Force was notified and is conducting an independent investigation.
Covelli said investigators are reviewing bodycam video, dashcam video, surveillance cameras and interviewing witnesses.
The case will be turned over to the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office once the investigation is complete.
It appears the offender and the victims were family members, Covelli said.
Police have a history of domestic disturbances at the residence and the suspect is known to law enforcement.
The Lake County Coroner’s Office said they have scheduled an autopsy on the suspect for Thursday morning.