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Sleepy Hollow's first fatal cop shooting, but not uncommon in suburbs

The man shot to death by Sleepy Hollow police was a first for the village of 3,500 residents, but it's something that occurs roughly once a year in the suburbs.

In the past 15 years, there have been at least 13 officer-involved fatal shootings in the suburbs, often after standoffs with police or in "suicide-by-cop" situations, according to Daily Herald research.

On Dec. 12, Arlington Heights police shot and killed Eric M. Anderson, 41, of Niles after he took his ex-girlfriend hostage in her mother's townhouse, resulting in a lengthy standoff with police.

Anderson also shot an Arlington Heights police officer in the face when the officer entered the house. The standoff ended when Anderson exited the home through its garage and pointed his gun at officers, who fatally shot him.

In the Sleepy Hollow case, authorities had not released further details regarding Sunday's shooting. Kane County Coroner Rob Russell said Monday the deceased man's next of kin had not yet been notified. Sleepy Hollow Police Chief James Linane could not be reached.

The man was shot after brandishing a knife and attempting to cut two officers outside a residence on the 1800 block of Maple Lane near Hemlock Drive, police said Sunday. Two others were injured during the disturbance.

Linane said at a news conference Sunday night the officers have been placed on paid leave while state police investigate the shooting, which is routine.

The officer-involved fatal shooting was a first for the Sleepy Hollow police department, which comprises 12 officers. It also was the village's first death outside of natural causes.

The village's previous accidental death occurred in 2009 and involved a 19-year-old woman who drowned in her family's swimming pool.

Linane said the officers acted appropriately in Sunday's shooting.

Officers arrived at the residence about 11:52 a.m. Sunday and found a male and female victim outside the home. The woman, police said, had an obvious head injury. Another man was on the home's driveway advancing toward the woman.

That man, police said, ignored the officers' commands to stop and instead approached them. After the officers tried unsuccessfully to restrain him, according to police, he pulled out a knife and tried to slash the officers.

The officers responded by firing at the man "for their own safety and that of the victims," police said. The man was pronounced dead at Advocate Sherman Hospital in Elgin.

There was no information available Monday about the conditions of the other man and woman injured during the disturbance. Linane would not say Sunday whether the suspect's knife caused the woman's head wound, or how the people involved were related to each other.

The officers involved are also disturbed by Sunday's events and were receiving help, he said.

Fatal shootings by suburban police

March 9, 2014 - Two Sleepy Hollow police officers shot and killed a man brandishing a knife and attempting to cut two officers after a domestic disturbance that left two others injured, police said. It's the first officer-involved shooting in the village's history.

Dec. 12, 2013 - Arlington Heights police shot and killed Eric M. Anderson, 41, of Niles, after he took his ex-girlfriend hostage in her mother's Arlington Heights townhouse resulting in a lengthy standoff with police. Anderson also shot an Arlington Heights police officer in the face when he entered the house. The standoff ended, when Anderson exited the home through its garage and pointed his gun at officers, who fatally shot him.

July 8, 2013 - A Kane County Sheriff's sergeant shot Batavia Township resident Luke Bulzak, 53, after he threatened to kill himself, would not drop his weapon and pointed it at deputies from the roof of his house. Bulzak died of his injuries later that night at Presence Mercy Medical Center in Aurora.

March 22, 2011 - Two Naperville police officers shot and killed a suicidal Aurora man, 47-year-old William Ladew, several times after he advanced on police with a butcher knife after a disturbance.

Jan. 7, 2011 - An off-duty Aurora police officer shot a 15-year-old Aurora boy shooting at a crowd of teens who refused to drop his gun. The teen, who was shot several times, was later pronounced dead at Rush-Copley Medical Center in Aurora.

Aug. 1, 2010 - Daniel Moreno, 28, died from injuries sustained in a shootout with police at his home in Arlington Heights after a standoff following a domestic incident.

Dec. 21, 2009 - Des Plaines police shot and killed Krzysztof Kaczor, 24, after he threatened an officer with a long-handled ax he was wielding in a neighborhood in the early morning hours.

Sept. 21, 2006 - David S. Maxson, 43, of Wonder Lake, died five days after a standoff inside his home ended with a McHenry County sheriff's deputy shooting him three times with a shotgun loaded with beanbags. One of the bags pierced Maxson's skull, causing a fatal brain injury.

May 14, 2006 - A Marengo police officer shot and killed Jose Manuel Aldava-Grijaldo, 21, who was the only suspect in the slaying of an elderly Marengo woman during an apparent robbery in her home earlier that day.

Nov. 17, 2004 - Crystal Lake resident Kevin Cronyn, 31, was shot dead by police after a high-speed chase through the city and he began ramming his pickup into occupied squad cars.

Dec. 12, 2001 - Joseph Frustaci of Bloomingdale was killed in an exchange of gunfire with Glendale Heights police. Frustaci was fleeing police after shooting his live-in girlfriend, Karen Robin. A Glendale Heights police officer fired several rounds at Frustaci's car after it sped toward him before crashing into a detention pond.

March 11, 2001 - Robert J. Hejsak, 33, of Spring Grove, Wis., was shot by police after a three-hour standoff in Ringwood and an exchange of 37 shots between Hejsak and eight police officers, mostly from the McHenry County sheriff's department.

Jan. 16, 1999 - Batavia resident Raul Montalvo was killed in an exchange of gunfire with two police officers after he pulled a rifle on police when they arrived at his home to serve a warrant.

SOURCE: Daily Herald archives, police reports

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