Officer Shoots Man Armed With Several Knives 'Charging' At Police: APD

AURORA, IL — An Aurora police officer shot a man who charged at them while armed with knives, officials said.

Officers were dispatched around 10:30 a.m. Sunday to a residence in the 900 block of Colorado Avenue after receiving a report of someone armed with multiple knives threatening to "kill everyone," according to Police Chief Keith Cross.

The subject was a 21-year-old man, according to reports from WGN.

Officers attempted to deescalate the situation using verbal commands but were unsuccessful, officials said.

At a news conference Monday afternoon, Cross said "less lethal options did not work" and when the man "began to run at the officer with the knives and because he closed the distance very quickly, the officer was retreating but then had to use deadly force to protect himself." The chief listed verbal commands and empty-hand control as examples of "less lethal options."

The man was shot by police at least four times — once in the leg, stomach, arm and eye, according to WGN.

Paramedics from the Aurora Fire Department treated the person on the scene for six minutes before they were taken to an area hospital, according to Fire Chief David McCabe. Police said the person was listed in critical condition as of Sunday evening.

"Medic 3 personnel strongly believe the rapid care given by the Aurora police officers greatly increases the patient's chance of survival," McCabe said in the news conference.

The officer involved in the shooting was also taken to a hospital per department policy but was later released.

All officers who responded to the incident have been placed on administrative leave in accordance with policy, Cross said.

"An officer-involved shooting is a traumatic incident for everyone involved," he said. "Anytime there is an incident of this nature we understand everyone involved is personally affected. We're providing support for our officers as well as the family of the subject."

The Kane County Major Crimes Task Force is conducting an investigation into the shooting. Illinois law requires police to turn over investigations of this nature to independent agencies.