A jury ruled during an inquest that a 59-year-old man’s death was a homicide after he was fatally shot by police while armed with a knife during a well-being check in Highland Park.
An autopsy performed on Brent Bucholtz, 59, of Highland Park, showed he died as a result of multiple gunshot wounds, according to Lake County Coroner Jennifer Banek.
A jury inquest was held on Thursday and the jury ruled Bucholtz’s manner of death was a homicide.
Lake County Chief Deputy Coroner Steve Newton said the ruling was “expected.”
The jury included a comment in their ruling and said, “We would like to emphasize that the classification of homicide for the purposes of death certification is a neutral term and neither indicates or implies criminal intent.”
An inquest is a legal public hearing into the manner of death in which the coroner and six jurors sit and evidence is presented to determine the manner and circumstances surrounding a death.
Inquests assist in detecting foul play or hazardous conditions, according to the coroner’s office.
Family members can attend and learn the facts surrounding the death of a loved one.
Bucholtz died around 5 a.m. on June 20 after the Highland Park Police Department responded to the 900 block of Half Day Road in Highland Park for a well-being check call.
Lake County Major Crime Task Force Spokesman Christopher Covelli said officers received a call from a concerned driver who was passing by the area.
They reported seeing someone lying in the roadway and the person was nearly struck by a vehicle.
The caller stated the subject stood up and stumbled into a residence in the 900 block of Half Day Road.
Covelli said three Highland Park Police Officers responded to the scene but did not locate the man outside.
They knocked on the door of the address provided by the caller.
A man, identified as Bucholtz, who lived at the residence, abruptly exited the home armed with a knife.
The officers immediately retreated and gave Bucholtz multiple instructions to drop the knife, Covelli said.
Bucholtz reportedly advanced toward them with the knife raised.
He continued charging at the officers and threatening them with the knife, Covelli said.
The officers discharged their firearms, striking Bucholtz. No one was inside the home at the time of the shooting.
Newton said Bucholtz had been shot multiple times but an exact number was not listed in the report due to the “complexity of the injuries” he suffered.
Officers called for paramedics while beginning lifesaving measures on Bucholtz.
The Highland Park Fire Department arrived at the scene at 5:04 a.m. Three ambulances were sent to the scene.
Lifesaving measures were unsuccessful and Bucholtz was pronounced dead at the scene.
All of the officers involved were transported to the hospital for evaluations but no physical injuries were reported.
The Highland Park Police Department called the Lake County Major Crimes Task Force to conduct an independent investigation.
The task force assumed responsibility for the investigation in accordance with state law.
Half Day Road was shut down between Western Avenue and Compton Avenue due to the police activity.
It is unclear whether the Major Crime Task Force has completed its investigation yet and handed it over to the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office, which has not announced any conclusion in the investigation.