Aurora police officers cleared in fatal shooting

Two Aurora police officers have been cleared of wrongdoing for shooting a man to death in January.

Kane County State’s Attorney Jamie Mosser ruled Friday that the police officers were justified, acting in self-defense and defense of other people.

According to a news release from Mosser, 27-year-old Temesgen Welendreyas, of Aurora, had beaten and threatened his housemate with a knife on Jan. 21. The housemate called police.

When police arrived at the home in the 300 block of Broadway, Welendreyas had barricaded himself in his room and refused to open the door or come out.

Mosser said police tried talking with him for 17 minutes, used unspecified “nonlethal de-escalation tools,” and eventually got a key to the door.

When they entered, Welendreyas came toward them, swinging a knife, which hit a shield an officer was carrying. He was also carrying a gasoline can in his other hand.

The officers fired four shots at him.

According to officials, the gasoline can contained diesel fuel.

The Fox Valley Major Crimes Task Force investigated the incident.

ssarkauskas@dailyherald.com