Mentally Ill Man Taking Pictures of Schools Fatally Shot by Police
The 38-year-old was shot in an alley in Zion, Illinois.
Charles J. Hollstein had suffered from mental illness.
A man wearing body armor and carrying a BB gun was shot to death by police in North Chicago on Jan. 6.
Charles J. Hollstein, 38, was fatally wounded after a brief struggle with Zion police that included the unsuccessful use of a Taser, according to the Chicago Tribune. Hollstein’s father said his son had struggled with mental illness.
Police initially responded to reports of a suspicious man taking pictures of schools in the Chicago suburb on Wednesday morning. They found the man within a block of Lakeview Elementary School and New Tech High School.
“The suspicious person was located by officers, and a foot pursuit ensued. It appeared the offender was wearing body armor. After the foot pursuit, a struggle with the offender and officers ensued, which resulted in the offender being shot,” a statement from the task force read.
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Police did not say how many times Hollstein, who was wearing a homemade tactical style vest with metal inserts, was shot.
A warrant was obtained to search Hollsteain’s home to determine why he may have been taking pictures of the schools.
Two nearby schools, Beach Park School District 3 and District 6, were briefly locked down on Wednesday but soon reopened. Other schools in Zion closed early.
The two officers involved in the incident have been placed on administrative leave.
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