Marengo Police Officer 'Justified' in May Shooting

The McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office will not file any charges against a Marengo officer who shot a juvenile during an encounter on May 13, prosecutors said Thursday. During the course of their investigation, the state’s attorney’s office has concluded that the officer’s use of force was justified, according to a news release. The investigation revealed that shortly after 11 p.m. on May 13, the officer was in the area of the 800 block of Prairie Street for the report of suspicious activity involving subjects approaching houses.

While in the area, in uniform, and in a marked squad car, the officer encountered a juvenile subject who appeared from underneath a parked vehicle, according to a news release from the state's attorney's office.

The officer approached the juvenile. As the officer got closer, the juvenile drew a loaded Smith and Wesson .38 revolver, pointed it at the officer and said he was going to kill the officer. The officer got out his gun and told the juvenile repeatedly to put the gun down, according to the news release.

The juvenile did not put his gun down and the officer fired one shot, striking the juvenile in the chest.

An ambulance was immediately called and the juvenile was transported to Rockford Memorial Hospital. The juvenile was treated for his injuries and released the next day.

The McHenry County Major Investigation Assistance Team (MIAT) conducted the investigation into the officer-involved shooting. The McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office has reviewed the case and found the Marengo officer "was facing an imminent threat of deadly force and acted appropriately in self-defense and in accordance with his responsibilities as a peace officer," according to a statement released Thursday by the state's attorney's office.

The juvenile will be charged with aggravated assault to a peace officer with a firearm and unlawful use of weapons.