A person who police said displayed a weapon following a vehicle chase was shot and killed by Aurora police on the city’s East Side early Wednesday morning, officials said.
At around 1:30 a.m. Wednesday, Aurora police responded to a mutual aid request attempting to locate a person wanted in connection with an aggravated battery to a Geneva police officer, according to a news release from the Aurora Police Department early Wednesday afternoon.
After obtaining the license plate of the vehicle and a description of the suspect, Aurora officers located the vehicle traveling southbound on Lake Street near Galena Boulevard in Aurora, according to the release.
Officers attempted to conduct a traffic stop on the vehicle, but the driver refused to stop, the release stated.
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A vehicle pursuit followed, and ultimately, the vehicle traveled northbound on Route 25, police said. As the vehicle approached Ashland Avenue, officers deployed stop sticks and the vehicle came to a stop a short distance later, according to the release.
As officers attempted to contact the driver, police said the driver displayed a weapon, and two Aurora police officers discharged their guns at the driver, who was struck by gunfire, according to the release.
Officers rendered aid to the individual until he was transported to a local hospital by Aurora Fire Department paramedics, police said. The individual, who has not been publicly identified by officials, was pronounced dead a short time later, according to the release.
An investigation into the officers’ actions is being conducted by the Kane County Major Crimes Task Force. Three officers have been placed on administrative leave, two who were involved and one who was present during the incident, which is standard procedure for officer-involved deaths, the release stated.
The task force will provide a report to Kane County State’s Attorney Jamie Mosser, who will determine if the use of force was justified, according to a joint press release from the Kane County State’s Attorney’s Office and the Kane County Coroner’s Office. The process will take place over the next few months, according to the release.
The Major Crimes Task Force comprises law enforcement officers from throughout Kane County. It provides independent assistance to member agencies that become involved in a major investigation, such as an officer-involved shooting, the release stated.
No officers from the Aurora Police Department will be involved in the investigation, the release said.
No body-worn camera footage will be released yet regarding the officer-involved shooting in Aurora, Mosser said at a press conference at Aurora City Hall on Wednesday.
The investigation will wait at least 72 hours before interviewing the involved officers, and the SAFE-T Act requires that police officers not see body-worn camera footage before giving a statement or making a police report about an incident like this, Mosser said. The plan is to release the footage at a later date, she said.
Details on the identity of the man who was fatally shot or of the officers involved cannot be released yet, officials said at Wednesday’s press conference. They also said they are unable to release any details on the weapon police said the driver of the car displayed.