Man shot, killed by officer 'armed with an electric hedge trimmer,' Des Plaines police say
Ayham Babidi's father said son was unarmed
DES PLAINES, Ill. (WLS) -- Des Plaines police said the 21-year-old man fatally shot by police Wednesday afternoon was "armed with an electric hedge trimmer."
Police said officers responded just after 2:30 p.m. Wednesday to the 2000-block of East Touhy Avenue for a report of a domestic disturbance.
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It was reported that a man, later identified as Ayham Babidi, was acting violently and breaking windows at a home.
The first arriving officer stopped near the home and encountered Babidi in the front yard with the hedge trimmer.
"The subject immediately began approaching the officer brandishing the electric hedge trimmer in a threatening manner," police said.
The officer told Babidi to drop it, but he refused, police said.
The officer fired three rounds at Babidi, police said.
The officer then provided medical aid until other first responders arrived, police said. Babidi later died.
Babidi's father said his son was not armed and was having a mental health episode when he was shot by police.
Broken glass remained at the scene, one of the few visible signs of the police-involved shooting in the normally quiet northwest suburban neighborhood. The incident has left many residents shaken.
"I've seen him walk by my house a few times, but never any kind of a difficulty," Sanders said. "He hasn't put anybody in danger. I was on my couch watching television yesterday afternoon around 2:30 and I thought I heard five gunshots or firecrackers. I wasn't sure which and apparently was gunshots cause not too long after that I saw a police come flying up and the fire department come flying up."
The victim's father said he had just had surgery and was not home at the time, but says his daughter called him.
During an interview with a reporter from Univision, Babidi's father Jamal said his son had a bipolar disorder and had struggled with his mental health for years.
"But I don't know. He's a very good guy. I don't know. Five years ago he got the bipolar. We tried giving treatment," Jamal Babidi said.
At least five evidence markers sat next to shell casings left behind from the shooting.
"We call police many times to help us take him to the hospital, not to kill him," Jamal Babidi said.
Neighbors said detectives secured footage from security cameras from nearby homes as they try to figure out what led up to the shooting.
Meanwhile, some in this close-knit community are trying to make sense of it all.
"It shakes you to the ground because like I say I've been here my whole life," Sanders said. "I've raised three kids in this house and never had any problems like this before it shakes you. It really does."
The Major Case Assistance Team is also investigating the shooting.
