A pair of Peoria police officers have been placed on administrative leave by the department after a Tuesday night incident in which one of them shot and killed a 41-year-old man wielding a baseball bat.
Officers Veronica Orozco and Da’Monte Williams were each placed on what the Peoria Police Department refers to as “critical incident leave” after they responded to the intersection of Northeast Glen Oak Avenue and Prospect Road on Tuesday night in response to a suspicious person at the scene.
Police said that the person – 41-year-old Brandon M. Lewis of Peoria – was swinging a baseball bat at the scene, striking one of the officers. The officers responded with one firing a Taser and one discharging their firearm.
While they were bringing Lewis into custody, he became unresponsive, with emergency medical services attempting live-saving measures. However, they were unsuccessful, and Lewis died at the scene.
Peoria County Coroner Jamie Harwood said Wednesday that Lewis sustained a single gunshot wound and died moments after he was hit.
Illinois State Police initiated an independent investigation into the officers’ use of force, with plans to turn the findings over to the Peoria County State’s Attorney’s Office for review.
State police have also assumed the lead on public communications for the incident. Peoria police said in a statement Thursday that a new policy required them to get permission from them in order to reveal Orozco and Williams’ names as well as release information on the night of the shooting.
State police and the coroner’s office are continuing to investigate.
This article originally appeared on Journal Star: Pair of Peoria police officers placed on administrative leave following fatal shooting
Reporting by Zach Roth, Peoria Journal Star / Journal Star
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