DuPage state's attorney: Glendale Heights police-involved shooting justified

DuPage County State's Attorney Robert Berlin said Tuesday that a Glendale Heights police officer was "justified in his actions" when he shot a man in December who authorities say was armed with multiple knives.

George Almeida, of the 0-100 block of Joseph Lane, was shot once in the hip by officer Krzysztof Padyasek, who shot four times, according to a news release from the state's attorney's office.

Padyasek was one of two officers who arrived at Almeida's home early Dec. 29 after his mother called 9-1-1, according to police reports.

Berlin was able to offer more details about what police say happened: When officers arrived, they heard a "thud" that Padyasek believed to be someone falling due to a fight. The officers then heard the home's garage door open and saw Almeida's mother, Connie Almeida, with blood on her cheek, police said. Padyasek called for her to exit the garage and, soon after, George Almeida entered the garage wielding two knives, officials said.

Almeida ignored officers demands that he drop the knife, Berlin said, and moved toward Padyasek, who feared for his life and shot him.

"Given his refusal to obey police commands and his advancing toward the officer while armed with two deadly weapons, Officer Padyasek acted lawfully and was justified in using deadly force by discharging his weapon in order to prevent imminent death or great bodily harm to himself or others," Berlin said in the statement.

Almeida was charged in December with felony aggravated assault against a police officer, as well as misdemeanor domestic charges.