A man claiming to have cancer was shot at a Vernon Hills, Ill. police station on Wednesday after he pointed what appeared to be a real gun at police officers and started walking forward, according to the Chicago Tribune:
Lazarus walked into the station shortly after midnight and said he had been involved in an accident and wanted to file a report, authorities said. When an officer walked into the lobby to talk to him, he pulled out what looked like a 9mm handgun, refused orders to drop it, pulled by the gun’s slide and walked toward the officer, police said.
The officer fired two rounds, hitting Lazarus in the abdomen. He was taken in fair condition to a hospital.
“I apologize for placing your officers in this position,” read a written note later found on Henry Lazarus, 43, according to the Chicago Tribune. “I am dying from cancer and couldn’t do the deed myself.”
The weapon Lazarus used was later found to be a replica, but officers said it had appeared as real at the time. Police said the officer who opened fire is now on administrative leave pending an ensuing investigation, but added that he was left with no other option but to use his weapon.
“The suspect made moves to actually fire the weapon and the officer had no choice,” police said.
Lazarus has been charged with aggravated assault. It was not immediately clear whether he actually had cancer.
