Chainsaw-Wielding Man Under Influence Of Drugs At Time Of Nursing Home Attack: Police

ST. CHARLES, IL — A 41-year-old man who was fatally shot by police after wielding a chainsaw and attacking residents inside a nursing home in St. Charles was under the influence of methamphetamine, according to newly-released information from the Kane County State's Attorney's Office.

The Kane County State's Attorney's Office has completed its investigation into the Dec. 1 incident at the River Glen of St. Charles assisted living center and determined "the St. Charles Police officer had the reasonable belief that the deadly force he employed was necessary to prevent death or great bodily harm to himself or other individuals," prosecutors said Tuesday.

Toxicology reports show Daniel H. Escalera, 41, of Stockwell, Indiana, was under the influence of amphetamines, methamphetamines and olanzapine, which is a drug used to treat schizophrenia, when entered the assisted living facility in the 900 block of North Fifth Avenue at about 8:45 a.m. on Dec. 1.

Police were first called to the facility for a report of shirtless man who was holding a chainsaw and trying to cut down a tree at the property, police said.

• Man With Chainsaw Fatally Shot At Assisted Living Center Identifie

As part of an investigation into the police-involved shooting, the state's attorney's office examined body-worn camera audio and video recordings, statements from witnesses to the events, physical evidence from the scene of the shooting and the results of an autopsy.

"Based on that investigation, the State’s Attorney’s Office found no wrongdoing on the part of the officers and the review of the matter is now considered closed," prosecutors said Tuesday.

Authorities did release more information into the incident Tuesday, detailing the timeline of events that led up to the shooting.

According to the state's attorney's office, the first officer to arrive at the nursing home made contact with Escalera, who was near multiple residents and inside the facility at the doorway to the cafeteria.

The officer displayed his taser and ordered Escalera drop the chainsaw. But Escalera entered the cafeteria and started the chainsaw, according to the news release.

The officer deployed his taser, striking Escalera in the chest. He was briefly knocked down before getting back up, grabbing the chainsaw and then running toward the officer, according to authorities.

The officer retreated to the lobby and was joined by a second St. Charles Police Department officer. Both officers quickly returned to the cafeteria and a third officer followed Escalera through a secondary doorway of the cafeteria and eventually back into the lobby, where Escalera held the chainsaw over his head and charged toward the officer, according to a news release.

The officer fired two shots, which both missed Escalera. Escalera ran into a different officer, striking him with the chainsaw and dropping the chainsaw. The officer fired a third shot as Escalera fled toward a hallway, hitting him in the left forearm, authorities said.

Once reaching the hallway, Escalera stopped to the immediate right of an elderly resident in a wheelchair, turned toward the officers, and held his hands forward in a position which appeared to imitate holding a firearm, authorities said. The officer fired a fourth shot striking Escalera in the chest.

Escalera collapsed to the floor and officers handcuffed him before immediately providing medical treatment to the gunshot wound. Paramedics also provided "life-sustaining measures," according to the news release.

Escalera was transported to Delnor Hospital where he was pronounced dead. The coroner's office determined his cause of death was multiple gunshot wounds.

The video of the event is being made available to the public and can be found by clicking https://ispvideos.illinois.gov... This video is being released after consultation with and authorization by the Kane County State’s Attorney. Illinois State Police provided Escalera's family the opportunity to review the video before its release to the public.