A man who was shot and killed by an officer Wednesday night in northwest suburban Des Plaines was approaching officers while holding an ax, police said.
Officers were called to a condo complex in the 1400 block of Thacker Street to assist fire officials and encountered a man who “was breaking things, possibly having a psychotic breakdown,” Des Plaines police said in a statement.
The man, Scott MacDonald, 55, was armed with an ax and “approaching officers in a threatening manner, in close proximity” when officers encountered him in the common hallway of the building, police said. An officer then opened fire and struck MacDonald.
MacDonald was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead, police said.
Police said body-worn camera footage of the incident shows MacDonald holding an ax. The footage will be released “when it is determined that doing so will not negatively impact the investigation,” the department said.
The officer who shot MacDonald has been employed with the department for more than two years, police said. The officer has been placed on paid administrative leave per department policy.
The multi-jurisdictional Major Case Assistance Team is investigating.
