Elmhurst cop who fired into car was ‘completely justified’: prosecutors

SHARE Elmhurst cop who fired into car was ‘completely justified’: prosecutors
elmhurst_police_e1526324635359.jpg

Elmhurst Police

The DuPage County State’s Attorney’s Office has ruled that an Elmhurst police officer was justified in shooting a man who allegedly drove at him during a traffic stop in February.

An investigation determined that Officer Alexander Kefaloukos was “completely justified in his actions and that no criminal charges will be filed” against him in connection with the Feb. 27 shooting of 33-year-old Byron Auterberry, State’s Attorney Robert Berlin said in a statement.

About 4:45 p.m., officers stopped a vehicle near the intersection of York Street and Crestview Avenue, according to a statement from Elmhurst Police Chief Michael Ruth.

During the stop, Kefaloukos was walking up to the vehicle from the front when Auterberry hit the gas, according to prosecutors and police. Kefaloukos fired shots into the vehicle, striking Auterberry in the left forearm and right thigh.

Auterberry’s vehicle crashed into another vehicle as he drove away, police and prosecutors said. The officers involved in the incident were not injured.

Byron Auterberry | DuPage County Sheriff’s Office

Byron Auterberry | DuPage County Sheriff’s Office

“Given the violent actions of Mr. Auterberry, his refusal to obey repeated police commands along with his actions of accelerating quickly in the direction of Officer Kefaloukos, Officer Kefaloukos acted lawfully and was justified in discharging his weapon in order to prevent imminent death or great bodily harm to himself or others,” Berlin said in the statement.

The vehicle was later found in the 1000 block of North Parkside in Chicago’s Austin neighborhood on the West Side, according to Ruth and Chicago Police. Auterberry was taken into custody Feb. 28 at a relative’s home in Chicago.

Auterberry, 33, was charged with two counts of aggravated assault and one count of aggravated fleeing or attempting to elude a peace officer, prosecutors said.

His bail was set at $100,000 and he remained in custody Monday, according to the DuPage County Sheriff’s Office. His next court date was scheduled for May 30.

The Latest
The incident occurred about 3:40 p.m. near Minooka. The horse was successfully placed back into the trailer, and the highway reopened about 40 minutes later. No injuries were reported.
The Hawks conceded the game’s only two goals within the first seven minutes and were shut out for the 12th time this season in a 2-0 defeat Thursday.
Eileen O’Neill Burke is leading Clayton Harris III, 50.15% to 49.85%, a margin that changed only by hundredths of a percentage point, after city and suburban officials tallied more mail-in ballots Thursday.
Suspect Romeo Nance’s son witnessed the shooting of at least five relatives, according to Joliet police reports obtained through a public records request. The reports also indicate the child’s mother was more deeply involved in the case than first thought.
Counsell is measured and stoic, more so than Joe Maddon or David Ross. After Justin Steele’s Opening Day injury, Counsell will put his head down, pace and figure it out.