Death Of Man Shot By Highland Park Police Ruled A Homicide

HIGHLAND PARK, IL — The death of a Highland Park man who was shot by police was a homicide, a jury ruled during an inquest.

Police conducting a wellness check on 59-year-old Brent Bucholtz on June 20 fatally shot the man after he reportedly charged at officers with a knife. An autopsy performed on Bucholtz indicated that his cause of death was multiple gunshot wounds, according to Chief Deputy Coroner Steve Newton.

Homicide, for the purposes of death certification, is when a death results from a volitional act committed by another person to cause harm, fear or death, Newton clarified.

"It is to be emphasized that the classification of Homicide for the purposes of death certification is a 'neutral' term and neither indicated nor implies criminal intent, which remains a determination within the province of legal processes," Newton told Patch.

A jury made the decision last week during an inquest, which is a legal public hearing where evidence is presented to determine the manner of death.

On the day of the incident, police received a call from a concerned citizen reporting there was a person lying in the roadway who was nearly struck by a vehicle. The caller told authorities that the person stood up and went inside a residence in the 900 block of Half Day Road.

Three officers responded to the home and knocked on the door when they didn't see anyone outside. According to police, Bucholtz then opened the door armed with a knife and charged at them.

After instructing Bucholtz to drop the knife multiple times to no avail, police shot at Bucholtz. While waiting for ambulances, police performed life-saving measure, but were unsuccessful and Bucholtz was pronounced dead at the scene.

The incident is currently under investigation by the Lake County Major Crimes Task Force, no conclusion has been announced.