Zion Man Killed By Police Identified As 47-Year-Old George Franklin

WAUKEGAN, IL — The man who authorities say opened fire during an encounter with police in Zion before being shot dead by another officer Thursday evening has been identified as a local parolee.

George Franklin, 47, of Zion, died as a result of multiple gunshot wounds at Vista Medical Center in Waukegan, according to the Lake County Coroner's Office, which conducted an autopsy Friday.

Zion police reported they were called to the 2800 block of Ezra Avenue in Zion by one of Franklin's relatives, who told dispatchers he was trying to break into her home, according to a spokesperson for the Lake County Major Crimes Task Force, which is investigating the police shooting as part of county protocol.

The 911 caller said she had an order of protection against Franklin.

It turned out she had obtained an order of protection against Franklin earlier Thursday, but he had not yet been served with the order, according to the task force.

The two Zion officers dispatched to the call found Franklin near the back door of his relative's home.

"When officers began speaking to him, he produced a firearm, turned, and faced the officers with the firearm, refused to drop the firearm when ordered, and began firing shots," according to a release from the task force.

"The officers retreated and the man ran approximately one block west with the firearm," it said. "A third Zion Police Officer encountered the man and shot him. The man’s firearm was recovered at the scene."

Officers attempted to carry out life-saving efforts before Franklin was taken in an ambulance to Vista east. None of the officers were shot in the incident, according to the statement, although the officer who shot Franklin was taken to an area hospital for evaluation.

The results of the task force investigation will be turned over to the Lake County State's Attorney's Office for review in accordance with county protocol and state law regarding police shootings.

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According to court records, Franklin was sentenced to six years in prison after pleading guilty in June 2018 to one count of aggravated discharge of a firearm at an occupied vehicle in exchange for prosecutors dropping gun possession and aggravated discharge of a firearm counts.

Franklin was released on parole in November 2021, according to the Illinois Department of Corrections.

Related: Zion Police Shoot And Kill Man Who Cops Say Fired Shots During Attempted Break-In Call At Officers