Chicago Tribune – by Liam Ford and Alexandra Chachkevitch
A 25-year-old man who had been threatening suicide was shot and killed by police near his home after he attacked an officer with a knife Thursday night in the West Woodlawn neighborhood, police said.
The incident took place about 6:40 p.m. in the 400 block of East Marquette Road, according to a statement from Police News Affairs.
Grand Crossing District officers responded to a call of a man threatening suicide in that area and found Terrence Gilbert sitting on a porch, according to police and the Cook County medical examiner’s office.
Once police officers pulled up and exited their vehicle, Gilbert charged at a police officer with a knife, stabbing him twice in his vest, according to the audio of Chicago police Deputy Chief Berscott Ruiz’s statement at the scene.
Gilbert, of the 500 block of East 67th Street, then started walking eastbound after stabbing the officer.
“Officers engaged him at that time again, asking to put his weapon down,” Ruiz said. “He turned around and charged at the police officers again, and he was shot twice in the torso.”
Gilbert was taken to John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital of Cook County where he was pronounced dead at 9:02 p.m., according to the medical examiner’s office.
The police officer who was stabbed was transported to an area hospital with minor injuries and was listed in good condition, according to Ruiz.
Police confiscated the knife at the scene, according to the statement from the police.
Police referred all questions regarding the shooting to the Independent Police Review Authority. A spokesman for the IPRA did not respond to repeated requests for comment.
A spokesman for the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 7 did not have detailed information on the incident.
Copyright © 2014, Chicago Tribune
“Once police officers pulled up and exited their vehicle, Gilbert charged at a police officer with a knife, stabbing him twice in his vest, according to the audio of Chicago police Deputy Chief Berscott Ruiz’s statement at the scene.”
IF true, it could almost fit their “in fear for their lives” claim for once. Almost.
I suppose simply tasing him was too much to ask for.