A person was killed Monday by an off-duty Kane County sheriff’s deputy in Elgin, but no details on the case other than when and where it occurred will be released pending an investigation, a news release from the Kane County State’s Attorney’s Office said.
The statement was released via email at 7:45 p.m. Tuesday, more than a full day after the fatal shooting occurred at 4:35 p.m. Monday at Walnut Avenue and National Street, and indicated the investigation might “take a few months.”
It came following a meeting that State’s Attorney Jamie Mosser held to review evidence with law enforcement representatves from Elgin, Batavia, St. Charles, Carpentersville, Geneva, Montgomery, North Aurora and South Elgin, all of which are members of the Kane County Major Crimes Task Force.
The task force is handling the investigation. Per the news release, “they provide timely and independent assistance to member agencies that become involved in a major investigation, such as an officer-involved shooting.”
As of Wednesday, the name, sex, age and address of the shooting victim have not been made public nor have the circumstances of what led to shooting, the name of the deputy involved, how many shots were fired, if anyone else was involved or if the deputy has been placed on administrative leave.
Kane County Sheriff Ron Hain, in an interview with WGN-TV Tuesday morning, disclosed that the shooting resulted from a robbery in progress that the deputy happened to come upon while driving through the area. He fired his weapon when the suspect pulled a gun, Hain said.
Since then, Hain has declined to speak about the incident and news releases from the state’s attorney’s office have said his account has not been officially confirmed.
An autopsy on the victim was conducted Wednesday morning by the Kane County Coroner’s Office, which said a news release on the findings would be issued Wednesday afternoon.
The state’s attorney’s office news release issue Tuesday night said, “Every case involving the use of deadly force by a police officer, whether on or off duty, must be carefully and thoroughly investigated.”
“State’s Attorney Mosser will not release any further information regarding this incident until the investigation is complete. These investigations typically take a few months, at which time the State’s Attorney will issue a full report outlining the investigation’s findings and conclusion. This policy preserves the integrity of the investigation and the privacy of individuals involved in the investigation prior to any public charging for violations of the law. It also serves to protect the rights of people not yet charged with a crime.”
Mosser also thanked the “public for their patience” and offered “condolences” to the family of the person he died.
