State's attorney: Sleepy Hollow officers justified in fatal shooting

Two Sleepy Hollow police officers who fatally shot a man advancing on them acted appropriately and will not be charged, Kane County State's Attorney Joe McMahon said Tuesday.

McMahon said the officers feared for their safety during a March 9 domestic disturbance. The officers shot and killed a man after he brandished a knife and attempted to cut them.

McMahon said the officers' use of deadly force was necessary to prevent harm to themselves and others at the scene.

"The officers were justified in the use of force," McMahon said. "It was clear that criminal charges are not warranted."

The state police conducted an investigation through early May, when the case was handed over to the state's attorney's office, McMahon said. The investigation included interviewing witnesses and examining coroner's reports and other materials.

The officers were placed on paid leave after the shooting but returned to regular duty about two weeks later, Sleepy Hollow Police Chief James Linane said.

"It's an unfortunate situation when officers have to respond to a violent domestic call," Linane said. "My officers did everything that they possibly could and followed the proper protocol."

When officers arrived outside a home on Maple Lane, 40-year-old Erdenebileg Sambuunyam, of Buffalo Grove, was advancing toward a woman with an obvious head injury, McMahon said. When officers asked him to stop, he attempted to attack them instead.

The officers shot Sambuunyam, and he was pronounced dead later that afternoon.

It was the first officer-involved fatal shooting in Sleepy Hollow.

The police department was notified of the officers' clearance about a week ago.

"(The officers) are trying to move on, just like everybody else," Linane said. "They've handled themselves well; they've handled themselves professionally. I'm very proud of my officers."