St. Charles, Illinois — On December 1, 2024, a 911 caller reported seeing, 41-year-old Daniel H. Escalera, wielding a chainsaw entering River Glen of St. Charles, a senior living facility. St. Charles Police Department officers were dispatched. The first officer to arrive made contact with Escalera inside the facility at the doorway to the cafeteria. He was near multiple residents. The officer displayed his taser and gave multiple verbal commands for Escalera to drop the chainsaw. Escalera entered the cafeteria and started the chainsaw. The officer deployed his taser, striking Escalera in the chest. Escalera was briefly knocked down before getting back up, grabbing the chainsaw, and then running toward the officer. The officer retreated into the lobby and was joined by a second St. Charles Police 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. The officer fired two shots which both missed Escalera. Escalera physically collided with the 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. 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. The officer fired a fourth shot striking Escalera in the chest. Escalera immediately collapsed to the floor and officers handcuffed him before immediately providing medical treatment to the gunshot wound. Paramedics soon arrived and took over life sustaining measures. Escalera was transported to Delnor Hospital where he was pronounced deceased. The Kane County Coroner’s Office diagnosed Escalera as having methamphetamine intoxication and multiple gunshot wounds. The cause of death was ascribed to multiple gunshot wounds. Toxicology reports showed the presence of amphetamines, methamphetamines, and olanzapine. Based upon a review of the investigation and all evidence obtained, 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.
