Man shot by Waukegan police was former Marine

A 33-year-old former Marine was pointing what appeared to be handgun at another man inside a Waukegan hotel Wednesday night before police shot and killed him, authorities announced Thursday.

Police later learned John D. Corcoran of Waukegan had served as a Marine and was suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder after multiple tours in Iraq. He was honorably discharged in 2009 after being wounded by an explosive, police said.

When officers arrived at the Holiday Inn Express, 611 Lakehurst Road, for a report of a suicidal suspect Wednesday night, they found Corcoran with the gun pointed at a man who was lying at his feet, police said. The man was facedown as Corcoran pointed a laser-guided handgun at him, which police later learned was a replica pellet gun with an authentic sighting system.

Police immediately evacuated a female customer who was near the front counter area of the hotel.

Officers then approached Corcoran while yelling commands and identifying themselves as police, but Corcoran pointed his gun at the officers, according to police.

One of the officers fired a single bullet that struck Corcoran in the upper torso, police said. The man who was at Corcoran’s feet ran from the scene unharmed.

Paramedics immediately gave Corcoran first aid, but he was pronounced dead at the scene, police said.

“My heart goes out to the family of Mr. Corcoran, who has shown great concern for the involved officers and the department as a whole,” said Waukegan Police Chief Daniel Greathouse in a written statement.