Police shoot and kill man who opened fire on officers, wounding 3 in South Elgin

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Police investigate a shooting about 2 a.m. Wednesday, July 4, 2018 in the 300 block of Woodridge Circle in South Elgin. | Justin Jackson/ Sun-Times

Police officers fatally shot a man who opened fire on officers, wounding three, during a SWAT incident that began Tuesday night in northwest suburban South Elgin.

SWAT teams from Elgin and Kane County and police officers from ten departments negotiated with the man, who fired at officers from the balcony of an apartment complex, for about four hours Tuesday night and early Wednesday.

Officers responded about 10 p.m. to reports of shots fired in the 300 block of Woodridge Circle. When they arrived, the man fired two rounds from a shotgun at officers, according to the South Elgin Police Department.

After taking cover, officers began negotiating with the man, who also aimed a scoped rifle at officers, according to Sgt. Mike Doty, who spoke at the scene. Officers did not return fire.

Residents of the apartment complex were evacuated about 11 p.m. Negotiations continued with the man, who moved from inside an apartment unit, to a balcony, to a stairwell in the complex, police said.

About 2:30 a.m., the man opened fire on officers a second time, and officers returned fire, fatally striking him, police said.

It was not clear where on the body he was shot, or how many times.

Three officers were struck during the shoot out and were taken to area hospitals to be treated for injuries that weren’t life threatening. A fourth officer who was not wounded, but was involved in the shooting, was taken to a hospital for observation, police said.

Police did not immediately confirm which departments the wounded officers were from, or where on the body they were shot.

Residents were being allowed back into their homes early Tuesday.

The man’s age was not immediately known and the Kane County Coroner’s Office had not confirmed his death.