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News December 11,2024 | Nidhi

Police Stop Chainsaw-Wielding Attacker At Illinois Nursing Home

A chaotic scene unfolded at a nursing home in St. Charles, Illinois, when a man armed with a chainsaw stormed into the facility, threatening residents and staff. The incident ended when police fatally shot the man, identified as 41-year-old Daniel Escalera of Stockwell, Indiana.

The St. Charles Police Department reported being called to River Glen of St. Charles, an assisted living facility, on Dec. 1 after receiving reports of a shirtless man using a chainsaw to cut down a tree on the property. Before officers arrived, the man entered the building’s lobby, revving the chainsaw and confronting elderly residents.

Officers attempted to de-escalate the situation but were unsuccessful. According to the police, the man continued to act aggressively and used the chainsaw to threaten those inside the facility. When a Taser proved ineffective in stopping him, an officer fired his weapon, striking Escalera.

Emergency responders treated Escalera at the scene before transporting him to a nearby hospital, where he was later pronounced dead. Police confirmed that only minor injuries were sustained by residents and officers involved in the incident.

One resident’s son, Paul Ekstrom, recounted the frightening moment, explaining that his 100-year-old mother was eating breakfast in a nearby dining area when the attacker burst in. “If it wasn’t for the police, they would’ve been sitting ducks,” he told WLS-TV.

Escalera had a lengthy criminal record spanning 25 years, including arrests for violent offenses such as stabbing his wife and assaulting a motorcyclist. At the time of the incident, he was reportedly in violation of his probation and should have been in custody. Why he was free remains unclear, leaving many in the community unsettled.

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