A man accused of wielding a chainsaw at an assisted living facility in St. Charles on Sunday who was shot and killed by police has been identified as Daniel H. Escalera, a resident of Indiana, law enforcement officials announced Monday afternoon.
On Sunday at around 8:45 a.m., St. Charles police officers were dispatched to the 900 block of North Fifth Avenue after witnesses reported seeing a shirtless man attempting to cut down a tree on the property of River Glen of St. Charles, which is an assisted living center, according to a joint news release from the Kane County State’s Attorney’s Office and the St. Charles Police Department.
Just before police arrived, witnesses reported that the man had entered the lobby of the assisted living center and was confronting residents with the chainsaw, officials said in the release.
When officers arrived, they attempted to de-escalate the situation, but Escalera continued to attempt to use the chainsaw against residents and the officers, the release stated.
A Taser was used on the man but his attack continued, officials said.
An officer was then “forced to fire his service weapon, striking the suspect,” according to the release.
First aid was immediately given, but Escalera, 41, of Stockwell, Indiana, was later pronounced dead at Northwestern Medicine Delnor Hospital in Geneva, the release stated.
An autopsy by the Kane County Coroner’s Office was scheduled for Monday, according to officials.
Some residents of the facility and responding officers were treated at the scene for minor injuries, the release stated.
Escalera has no known ties to the area or the senior living center, and the St. Charles Police Department had no previous contacts with him, officials said in the release. His reason for being in St. Charles or at the assisted living facility are unknown at this time, officials said Monday.
The officer involved in the shooting has been placed on administrative leave per department policy, according to the release.
Per protocol, the Illinois State Police is leading the investigation into the incident, and after they complete their investigation, the Kane County State’s Attorney Office will review the report to determine if the use of force was justified, officials said.
