Man Killed By Police Was Wanted For Murdering Elderly Man: Cops

LAKEMOOR, IL — A 36-year-old man shot dead by police in Lakemoor on Thursday was wanted for stabbing an 88-year-old Pennsylvania man to death earlier this week, according to police and media reports. Preliminary autopsy results showed Kenneth E. Martell, of Meadville, Pennsylvania, died of injuries sustained from a gunshot wound to his face, Lake County Coroner Howard Cooper said in a statement Thursday afternoon.

The officer-involved shooting in Illinois occurred after a Lakemoor police officer spotted a suspicious vehicle parked on a gravel road near Four Seasons Boulevard and Sullivan Lakes Road just after 5 a.m. Thursday, authorities said.

A female officer was the first to approach the suspicious vehicle, which was in an area where people don't typically park on or travel down, Covelli said. While speaking with him, the male driver produced a handgun. A struggle followed between the officer and the man, he said.

A back-up officer arrived at the scene and the male driver ended up producing a second handgun, according to police. At least one of the officers opened fire, fatally shooting the man–who has since been identified as Martell, according to authorities.

Lake County Major Crime Task Force investigators worked throughout the day with authorities from Pennsylvania to confirm "Martell was the individual Pennsylvania authorities have been searching for in connection with a homicide that occurred earlier this week," Covelli said in a statement late Thursday afternoon.

Martell was wanted for murdering a Pennsylvania man just days before his 89th birthday either, The Meadville Tribune reports. According to a court affidavit, Martell went to the home of Theodore M. Garver in Crawford County, Pennsylvania, either late Monday or early Tuesday with plans of robbing him but "ended up killing the victim." Authorities found the elderly man's body in a pond Tuesday morning.

The affidavit also stated Martell used a knife to kill Garver "with malice and premeditation," according to the newspaper's report.

An investigation continues into what exactly lead police to shoot Martell Thursday morning. Both officers were taken to an area hospital for an evaluation. Neither were injured, Covelli said. Covelli could not comment Thursday on whether Martell shot at either officer or fired his gun.

Lakemoor Police Department officers do wear body cameras so authorities with the Major Crimes Task Force, which was called in to investigate the officer-involved shooting, will review the video, Covelli said.

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