Police in St. Charles, Illinois, fatally shot a man armed with a chainsaw who stormed an assisted living facility and threatened its residents. The incident took place on Dec. 1 at River Glen of St. Charles.
According to police, officers were dispatched after reports of a shirtless man attempting to cut down a tree on the facility’s property. Before officers arrived, the man entered the building and began confronting residents in the lobby while revving the chainsaw.
St. Charles, Illinois
Chainsaw massacre averted at nursing home:https://t.co/ok1jU7kZiJ pic.twitter.com/PRndtJcZbz
— The Big C-O (@thebigC_O) December 2, 2024
Police attempted to de-escalate the situation, using a Taser to subdue the man. When this failed, an officer fired their weapon, striking the suspect. The man, identified as 41-year-old Daniel Escalera of Stockwell, Indiana, was transported to a hospital where he later died.
Residents and staff reported only minor injuries, but the incident left many shaken. Paul Ekstrom, whose 100-year-old mother was nearby during the attack, expressed his gratitude for law enforcement. “They saved lives,” he told local reporters.
Nice. Local news. A lunatic just tried to kill residents of a nursing home and arriving police with a chainsaw
Shot and killed while attacking police https://t.co/GCqywslm5f
— mark safranski (@zenpundit) December 1, 2024
Escalera had a history of violent crimes, including stabbing his wife and attacking a motorcyclist during a road rage incident. At the time of the attack, he was reportedly in violation of his probation and should have been in custody.
The nursing home and its residents are now focused on recovery, while police continue their investigation into how Escalera was free despite his probation violations.
