Man who police say pointed a gun toward an officer was shot, killed in La Salle in standoff

A man died after he was shot by a uniformed law enforcement officer Sunday. Police said he exited a building and pointed a handgun at an officer.

La Salle and Peru police responded to the 600 block of Chartres Street in La Salle for a report of a suicidal subject with a gun.

Upon arrival at about 1:27 p.m., officers observed the man exit the building and fire a gun in the air before he retreated inside, police said. At this time, officers formed a perimeter and requested additional assistance that included the La Salle County Sheriff’s Office Tactical Response Team. This multi-agency law enforcement team responded by seeking the evacuation of nearby buildings and residences for public safety and requesting that the power company disable power to the building.

Nearby La Salle-Peru High School evacuated any students and staff from its campus as a precaution.

The man was identified by police as having been involved in a vehicle striking a building earlier in the day in the 600 block of First Street.

Trained personnel made contact with the man, focusing on trying to de-escalate the situation for more than an hour and a half, police said. During this time, the subject repeatedly exited the building with the firearm and displayed it in a manner threatening public safety, according to police. At one point, the man fired the gun out of the window toward uniformed officers, police said.

At about 4 p.m., the man exited the building again, pointing the handgun toward uniformed law enforcement officers, at which time a law enforcement officer discharged his firearm, ending the threat, police said.

Medically trained personnel from the La Salle Fire and Emergency Services began treating the man, who was later pronounced dead on scene. There were no injuries to law enforcement or other citizens.

The Illinois State Police was requested to conduct an independent investigation.

The La Salle Police Department thanked La Salle County Sheriff’s Office, La Salle County Sheriff’s Tactical Response Team, Bureau County Sheriff’s Office, Illinois State Police, Illinois Conservation Police, Peru Police Department, Ottawa Police Department, Spring Valley Police Department, Naplate Police Department, Oglesby Police Department, Princeton Police Department and the La Salle Fire Department who assisted in staging a drone for their response.

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A police officer assesses the situation from behind his truck outside of a two-story apartment building on the corner of Seventh and Chartres streets on Sunday, March 30, 2025, in La Salle. (Kyle Russell)