Man With Chainsaw Fatally Shot At Assisted Living Center Identified

ST. CHARLES, IL — The 41-year-old man who was fatally shot by a police officer after attacking residents and officers at an assisted living facility in St. Charles has been identified.

Daniel H. Escalera, of Stockwell, Indiana, died at Delnor Hospital on Sunday, according to officials in Kane County.

Escalera has no known ties to the St. Charles area or the River Glen of St. Charles assisted living center where the attack and shooting occurred on Sunday morning, according to a joint statement from the Kane County State’s Attorney’s Office and St. Charles Police Department.

Police were first called to the assisted living center in the 900 block of North Fifth Avenue at about 8:45 a.m. on Sunday for a welfare check request after a shirtless man holding a chainsaw was spotted trying to cut down a tree on the property, according to a news release from St. Charles Police.

• Officer Kills Man Trying To Attack People With Chainsaw At Assisted Living Facility: Cops

Just before officers arrived, additional reports came in that the man had entered the lobby of the facility and was confronting residents with the chainsaw, according to police. Arriving officers tried to de-escalate the situation, but the man attempted to “use the chainsaw against” both residents and officers, police said.

Police used a Taser on Escalera, but that did not quell the attacks, police said.

“An officer was then forced to fire his service weapon, striking the suspect,” St. Charles police said in a statement released Sunday.

Escalera died later Sunday at Northwestern Medicine Delnor Hospital, according to police, who said residents and officers were treated at the scene for minor injuries. Residents of the assisted living facility and officers were treated at the scene and then released, police said.

State police are investigating whether the officer was justified in his "use of force" in the incident. Following the investigation, Illinois State Police will turn its reports over to the Kane County State's Attorney's Office for an independent review of the facts.

River Glen of St. Charles addressed the incident in a Facebook post.

"This morning, an unauthorized person briefly entered our community and was quickly stopped by responding officers," the post said. "We are deeply grateful for the swift action of our team and law enforcement. We want to emphasize that our community is secure, and all residents and staff members are safe.

"The safety and security of our residents and staff remain our highest priority. We are working closely with law enforcement as they continue their investigation of this isolated incident."

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Editor's Note: An earlier version of this article cited information from a Kane County State's Attorney's Office/St. Charles Police Department news release that incorrectly stated Escalera's age as 24. Officials have since issued a correction saying Escalera was 41.