Man shot by DeKalb police after car dealership stabbing spree injures employees

DeKALB – DeKalb police shot a man Wednesday midday after he allegedly attacked multiple employees in a stabbing inside a local car dealership and refused to put down the knife when ordered, authorities said.

One employee inside Brian Bemis Toyota car dealership, 1890 Sycamore Road, suffered a stab wound to an extremity, although the wound was not life-threatening.

City Manager Bill Nicklas said., who said he spoke on behalf of DeKalb police, said agencies received a 911 call shortly before 1 p.m. The man who allegedly wielded more than one knife is not an employee or a customer of the business.

“DeKalb police responded to a call where a person was wielding a knife and stabbing employees,” Nicklas said. “Police responded and commanded the alleged assailant to cease. He did not comply, and the incident ended in a police-involved shooting.”

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Two women hug among a group of Brian Bemis Toyota employees Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2024, outside the dealership in DeKalb after police responded to a stabbing where multiple employees were injured. The incident ended after police shot the man wielding the knife authorities said. (Mark Busch)

In a followup news release issued by the DeKalb Police Department shortly before 6 p.m. Wednesday, authorities said the 911 call came about 12:25 p.m. for reports of a person “who had become upset and was brandishing a knife.”

DeKalb police arrived within five minutes and “confronted the individual, who refused to drop the knife and instead advanced,” according to the news release. Police shot the man after he refused to comply with orders to put down the knife, authorities said.

‘My heart goes out to the victims at Brian Bemis, the employees that were there, and of course their families.’

—  DeKalb mayor Cohen Barnes

Nicklas said police believe the incident was isolated and no lingering threat to the public remains. The criminal investigation is expected to be handed off to the Illinois State Police, Nicklas said.

Paramedics treated the victims on the scene. The alleged suspect was taken by paramedics to nearby Northwestern Medicine Kishwaukee Hospital and then flown to a Rockford hospital for more medical care. The man is expected to survive, according to the news release.

DeKalb Mayor Cohen Barnes said middle-of-the-work-day violent incidents don’t happen like this in the community. He said he offered words of comfort to the victims, and wished those injured a speedy recovery.

“My heart goes out to the victims at Brian Bemis, the employees that were there, and of course their families,” Barnes said. “The physical wounds will heal, there’s no doubt about that but it’s the mental ones that’ll probably take longer.”

A heavy police presence was seen in the dealership parking lot. A crowd, including huddled employees, gathered outside the dealership Wednesday afternoon. Some hugged each other while others looked on as police roped off the area and went in and out of the building.

Entrance into the lot also was blocked off temporarily by law enforcement Wednesday. Multiple agencies responded, including DeKalb city, Sycamore and DeKalb County Sheriff’s deputies.

The shooting, while unrelated, is the second in less than 24 hours in DeKalb County to have a police officer shoot a suspect. DeKalb County Sheriff’s deputies shot and killed a man in the early morning hours Wednesday in unincorporated DeKalb Township. The man allegedly shot at police multiple times with a handgun after an hours-long standoff, Sheriff Andy Sullivan said.

Authorities have not identified either person suspected in either police shooting as of 5:40 p.m. Wednesday.

Barnes said having two police shootings, even unrelated, is “unprecedented” and “a tragedy” for the area.

“It just goes to show the state of our current society,” Barnes said. “We’re a community that we absolutely believe everyone belongs here. This should be a community that people come, they feel safe, no matter who they are, no matter what they, however they express themselves.”

Along with state police, DeKalb County State’s Attorney Rick Amato’s office will also review the police shooting.

“Our office is working with the Illinois state police on two shooting incidents, unrelated, from today, one from the early morning hours and then one from this afternoon,” Amato said.

Barnes said he was proud of area law enforcement and DeKalb city police, who he said are trained to de-escalate high intensity situations.

“My heart goes out to those officers that were involved in these shootings because I know it’s also going to take a toll on them as well,” Barnes said. “And I hope the community will support those that are out there on a daily basis protecting us and making this community as safe as we possibly can.”

Representatives from Brian Bemis Toyota of DeKalb could not be reached for comment Wednesday.

“We’re obviously concerned for the welfare of the employees of Brian Bemis Toyota,” Nicklas said. “And we will be following up on them as well. Our hearts go out to them and their families.”

This is a developing story. This story was updated at 4:20 p.m. Oct. 23, 2024. Another update at 6:10 p.m. added more details from DeKalb police. Additional updates could occur.