6 Des Plaines police officers on paid leave as investigation into fatal shooting continues

Six Des Plaines police officers who responded to the 911 call that preceded last week’s fatal shooting of a resident are on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of an independent investigation.

That total includes the officer who shot Ayham Babidi as the 21-year-old advanced while brandishing an electric hedge trimmer, said Cmdr. Matt Bowler, the department’s spokesperson.

“This is standard protocol in this type of investigation,” Bowler said Wednesday via email.

All six officers work the same 12-hour shift, Bowler said. Twenty-four officers typically staff each shift.

To ensure the affected shift meets minimum operating standards, other officers will be paid overtime to cover for the six on leave as needed, Bowler said.

Officers went to the Babidi house on the 2000 block of East Touhy Avenue about 2:30 p.m. Sept. 9 because Babidi reportedly was acting violently and breaking windows, police have said.

Babidi’s father later told the Daily Herald his son had bipolar disorder and was experiencing a mental health episode.

The first officer who arrived encountered Babidi in the front yard with the hedge trimmer, police have said. Babidi held the tool “in a threatening manner” while approaching the officer and refused commands to drop it, police have said.

Police have declined to say if the trimmer was running as Babidi approached.

The officer shot Babidi after being backed into oncoming traffic, police said.

Babidi died at Advocate Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge.

The Major Case Assistance Team is investigating. Police said they have video of the shooting from the camera in the officer’s vehicle and residential security cameras, but they won’t release it now to avoid compromising the investigation.

The officer wasn’t able to activate his body-worn camera because the situation escalated quickly, police said.

Des Plaines police were familiar with Babidi before the deadly confrontation. He was arrested Aug. 19 and charged with misdemeanor battery after he hit an officer responding to a disturbance at the home, authorities said.

Earlier this week, the Council on American-Islamic Relations — a Muslim civil rights and advocacy group — issued a news release condemning the shooting and urging investigators to examine the officer’s use of deadly force and his failure to activate his body camera. The group also questioned if opportunities to de-escalate the encounter were missed.

“No family should have to fear that seeking help for a loved one in a mental health crisis will end in their death,” said Ahmed Rehab, the executive director of the council’s Chicago office and a Des Plaines resident. “Ayham’s family deserves a full accounting of the police response and whether officers took every reasonable opportunity to preserve his life.”

rlissau@dailyherald.com