Illinois officers cleared in shooting of chainsaw-wielding man at nursing home

ST. CHARLES, Ill. (WTVO) — Police officers who were involved in the fatal shooting of a man wielding a chainsaw at an assisted living facility will not face criminal charges.

The Kane County State’s Attorney’s Office, Illinois State Police, and St. Charles Police Department released a joint statement on Thursday.

Police were called to the River Glen of St. Charles around 8;45 a.m. on December 1st, 2024, after a witness said a shirtless man was holding a chainsaw and attempting to cut down a tree on the property.

As police were arriving, witnesses informed them that the suspect, Daniel Estrada, 41, had entered the building’s lobby and was confronting residents.

Despite the use of a taser, authorities said Estrada ran toward police with the chainsaw, resulting in an officer firing his weapon and striking Estrada.

He was taken to Northwestern Medicine Delnor Hospital, where he died. An autopsy later found amphetamines, methamphetamines, and olanzapine in his system, the coroner’s office said.

Residents at the scene were treated for minor injuries, police said.

Illinois State Police conducted the investigation into the incident, reviewing body-worn camera video and audio, witness statements, and physical evidence from the scene.

The results of the investigation were handed over to the Kane County State’s Attorney, who determined that the officer’s use of deadly force was necessary.