Bodycam video released in police shooting of grandson accused of stabbing grandfather to death

JOLIET TOWNSHIP, Ill. (WLS) -- Newly-released bodycam video Tuesday shows the moment Will County Sheriff's deputies entered a home that resulted in a deadly shooting.

The bodycam video shows the altercation inside the home that ended in the deaths of a 70-year-old man and his 21-year-old grandson.

Now, lawsuits have been filed on behalf of the two deceased family members.

No one answered door at what was the Joliet Township home of Eldred Wells and his grandson Jabbar Muhammad.

Both died after being shot by Will County Sheriff's deputies on November 6, 2021, as the officers responded to a domestic dispute call placed that day by a second grandson.

ABC7 has blurred the faces of everyone involved, because criminal charges were not filed.

The bodycam shows Muhammad holding a knife. His family said he had just been released from a mental health facility.

In the video, one officer unholsters his weapon as a second pulls out a Taser.

The confrontation escalates and Muhammad lunges towards his grandfather. That's when officers open fire, shooting multiple times.

ABC7 has also stopping the video just before shots ring out.

Now, two separate lawsuits have now been filed against the Will County Sheriff's Department.

"The officers, as soon as they got into the door, instead of de-escalating the situation, they raised the temperature of the situation. Within 32 seconds of walking into that room, they were firing their service weapons," said Keenan Saulter, the family's attorney.

An investigation conducted by the Will and Grundy Major Crimes task force resulted in no charges being filed against the officers involved.

However, the attorneys for the family accuse Will County of trying to cover up what happened.

"They announced that they had shot Jabbar Muhammad and that Mr. Wells died from stab wounds from Jabbar Muhammad," Saulter said.

A statement released by the Will County Sheriff's Department said:

"On 11/06/2021, at approximately 4:00 PM, members of the Will County Sheriff's Office were dispatched to 300 Middletree Road in Joliet Township for a domestic disturbance involving a grandfather and grandson, whereas the grandson was armed with a knife. Upon deputies arriving on scene they observed Jabbar Muhammad holding a knife in a threatening manner near his grandfather. The deputies ordered Jabbar numerous times to put the knife down, which he refused to do.

As the grandfather, Eldred Wells, got closer to Jabbar Muhammad, deputies began to fear for Eldred's safety. It initially appeared to responding deputies that Jabbar was complying with deputies commands as he began to crouch down with his hands up, acting as if he was going to place the knife on the ground. Without warning, Jabbar lunged at his grandfather with the knife, stabbing Eldred in the neck several times. Deputies fired their service weapons, at Jabbar Muhammad, in defense of Eldred's life. Jabbar Muhammad was shot several times by responding deputies. Both Jabbar and Eldred fell to the floor upon Jabbar being shot. After being shot numerous times, Jabbar continued to stab his grandfather as the two were laying on the floor. The deputies again, fired their service weapons multiple times in an attempt to stop Jabbar Muhammad's deadly actions. Deputies performed life saving measures on both Jabbar and Eldred Wells. Eldred Wells was transported to a local area hospital, where he was later pronounced deceased. Jabbar Muhammad died on scene as a result of his injuries. The Will/Grundy Major Crimes Task Force were summoned to the scene to investigate this incident under provisions set forth by the by the Police and Community Relations Improvement Act in regards to an Officer Involved Shooting incident.

At the time of the incident, it was unknown by Will County Sheriff's Office personnel if Eldred Wells was struck by gunfire as a result of the deputies firing their service weapons. During the investigation, the Will/Grundy Major Crimes Task Force advised the Will County Sheriff's Office that Eldred Wells was struck by gunfire. In addition, the Will County Sheriff's Office learned the official cause of death of Eldred Wells upon completion of the Will County Coroner's Report.

Upon completion of the Will/Grundy Major Crimes Task Force investigation, the case was handed over to the Will County States Attorney's Office for review on 12/14/2021. On 07/21/2022, the Will/Grundy Major Crimes Task Force along with the Will County Sheriff's Office was advised that no charges would be filed against the officers involved in this deadly use of force by the Will County States Attorney's Office. Upon completion of the criminal investigation, the Will County Sheriff's Office was tendered the reports done by the Will/Grundy Major Crimes Task Force in order to complete the internal affairs investigation for potential policy violations committed by the officers involved. That investigation was completed on 11/15/2022. That investigation concluded that the officers that used deadly force in this encounter were justified in their actions, and there were no policy violations associated with the actions of those officers."

As for the lawsuits, a spokesperson for the Will County Sheriff's Office said they can't comment on ongoing litigation.