Police shoot Round Lake man during hostage standoff

ROUND LAKE – A Round Lake man was critically wounded during a hostage standoff when police officers shot him as he refused to release a woman he was holding at knifepoint, authorities said.

Gerzin Ramirez-Perez, 33, of the 700 block of North Park Road, Round Lake, has been charged in connection with the hostage situation.

About 6:35 p.m. Sept. 19, Round Lake Police officers were dispatched to a residence in the 700 block of North Park Road in Round Lake. A woman outside of the home told officers there was a woman in the basement of the home who needed help, according to the release.

Officers were told a 33-year-old man and a 30-year-old woman lived in the home’s basement apartment. When officers approached the basement door, they could hear what sounded like people in the basement. Meanwhile, a police officer looking through a basement window saw the man holding a knife to the woman’s neck, according to the release.

The officers tried to deescalate the situation, but the man refused to put the knife down or let the woman go, police said.

The Northern Illinois Police Alarm System, a regional SWAT team, was requested to the scene. Members of NIPAS attempted deescalation techniques and negotiations to peacefully resolve the situation.

During their efforts, the man grew increasingly agitated and refused to drop the knife or follow any instructions requested by NIPAS. Two members of NIPAS discharged their firearms, striking the man, police said.

After the shooting, officers were able to free the woman and they provided aid to the man until paramedics arrived. The man was taken to an area hospital with critical injuries and is expected to survive. The woman suffered minor injuries during the attack and was evaluated by paramedics but declined transport to the hospital.

The two officers involved in the shooting were taken to area hospitals for evaluation, per protocol, according to the release.

Ramirez-Perez was discharged from an area hospital Sept. 25. Upon his discharge, he was arrested and transported to the Lake County jail, police said.

Ramirez-Perez has been charged with aggravated unlawful restraint, a Class 3 felony, and two counts of misdemeanor domestic battery.

The Lake County Major Crime Task Force is conducting an independent investigation into the officer-involved shooting. Evidence, including two knives, were collected from the scene, authorities said.