Cop 'Justified' In Shooting Man Holding Steak Knives: Authorities

GLENDALE HEIGHTS, IL -- A police-involved shooting of a man in Glendale Heights has been ruled as justified by the DuPage County State's Attorney. Authorities say the suspect, George Almeida Jr., was wielding two steak knives before he was shot, leading the officer to believe "he was going to be stabbed." As a result, no criminal charges will be filed against Krzysztof Padyasek, the officer who reportedly fired four times and struck Almeida once in the hip.

The incident started early Dec. 29 after police got a 911 hangup call from a home in the first block of Joseph Lane that was later determined to have been made by Almeida's mother. When police got to the scene, they say they heard yelling coming from inside the home.

Police say they heard a "thud," as though someone had fallen down right after they heard a male voice say, "Don't open that door."

Officer Padyasek told authorities that he then heard a garage door open and saw Almeida's mother exit the garage with blood visible on her cheek. The officer then started to enter the home to make sure no one else was inside, officials say.

Authorities say Almeida then came out of the home holding a cordless phone in one hand and two steak knives in the other. Almeida was "waving the knives wildly above his head," Padyasek told authorities.

Almeida then walked toward Padyasek, who told him to "drop the knife" and not to move, police say. According to authorities, Almeida moved toward Padyasek while "holding the knives pointed forward and moving his arms in a back and forth motion. "

Padyasek then fired two shots that did not hit Almeida, who reportedly kept holding onto the knives. Police say Padyasek fired two more shots, one of which hit Almeida in the hip. Almeida was taken to a local hospital and treated for injuries that were not life-threatening.

DuPage County State's Attorney Robert Berlin said in a statement, "When Mr. Almeida refused clear and audible commands to “drop the knife” by Officer Padyasek and another Glendale Heights police officer, and instead advanced toward Officer Padyasek holding deadly weapons, Officer Padyasek was confronted with an imminent unlawful threat of deadly force by Mr. Almeida."

Berlin added that "the officer involved in this unfortunate incident made every attempt to reach a peaceful conclusion under very stressful conditions" and praised the Glendale Heights Police Department for its "excellent training."

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