Two Aurora police officers who opened fire on a barricaded man swinging a knife have been cleared of any wrongdoing, with Kane County prosecutors ruling in September that the January shooting was justified self-defense. Temesgen Welendreyas, 27, died from multiple gunshot wounds after advancing on officers who had spent 17 minutes trying to talk him out of a locked room in the 300 block of South Broadway.
Kane County State's Attorney Jamie Mosser announced the finding after a review of an investigation carried out by the Fox Valley Major Crimes Task Force, according to the Chicago Tribune. The shooting was ruled justified as self-defense and defense of others, per the Daily Herald.
The episode began when Welendreyas's housemate called police after he allegedly battered and threatened them with a knife, prompting officers to respond to the residence. Officers responded to the South Broadway residence.
A 17-Minute Standoff Ends in Gunfire
Once inside, officers found Welendreyas barricaded in his room, refusing to come out or open the door. For 17 minutes, officers attempted to speak with him and deployed non-lethal de-escalation tools before eventually obtaining a key to the door, per the Tribune's account of the state's attorney's findings.
When officers entered, Welendreyas advanced toward them while swinging the knife, also holding what appeared to be a gas can in his other hand — later determined to contain diesel fuel, officials said. The knife came close enough to strike an officer's shield before two officers fired four shots in total.
Welendreyas died from multiple gunshot wounds.
Coroner and Toxicology Findings
The Kane County Coroner's Office conducted an autopsy on January 23 and ruled the preliminary cause of death as gunshot wounds, submitting forensic toxicology samples for further analysis, as reported by Patch. The coroner's office ultimately determined that Welendreyas died from multiple gunshot wounds, according to the state's attorney's findings cited by the Tribune.
Two officers were involved in the shooting. Under state law, any officer who discharges a firearm resulting in injury or death must undergo mandatory alcohol and drug testing by the end of their shift, a requirement spelled out in the Illinois Police and Community Relations Improvement Act.
Why an Outside Task Force Investigated
The Fox Valley Major Crimes Task Force investigated the case before handing its findings to Mosser's office for review.
Mosser's office ruled the shooting justified as self-defense and defense of others. The office said the investigation into the incident is now closed.
The Prosecutors' Finding
In the Welendreyas case, Mosser's office cleared the officers after reviewing the task force investigation.
The office ruled the shooting justified as self-defense and defense of others.
