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April 13, 2009

Police release synopsis of shooting

BY BRIAN L. HUCHEL

OAKWOOD — Decisions as to the justification of a shooting last week along Interstate 74 will be in the hands of the Vermilion County state’s attorney’s office.

The Illinois State Police investigators released a synopsis of their investigation into the shooting of 23-year-old Oluwato-funmi O. Kaiyewu, of Carbondale on April 6 along Interstate 74 at mile marker 207 near Oakwood.

The next step will be a decision on the actions taken by the officers.

The state police, in a release, indicated it will not make any judgments or recommendations in regards to the case, instead turning over all information to State’s Attorney Randy Brinegar for a final review.

Vermilion County Sheriff Pat Hartshorn said he is not expecting an immediate decision and conclusion to the case, noting that state police investigators have not yet turned over their reports to Brinegar’s office.

Hartshorn estimated it could take as much as a week before the investigative reports from the state police are turned over.

Hartshorn said the deputy, who has not been named, was allowed to return to the job Saturday night after going on paid leave immediately following the shooting.

The events of April 6 began just before 10:30 p.m. in Douglas County. State police indicated a Villa Grove officer pulled behind what he considered to be a suspicious car that had pulled out of a convenience store and then stopped in the middle of Illinois Route 130.

The driver, Kaiyewu, got out and refused to obey the officer’s commands, eventually pushing the officer, the according to the state synopsis. Kaiyewu also put his car in reverse in an attempt to hit the officer.

That began a pursuit that continued into Champaign County, through a small Urbana neighborhood and eventually to east-bound Interstate 74 where stop sticks were used to disable Kaiyewu’s vehicle near Oakwood.

Invesigators indicated Kaiyewu first attempted to flee on foot while wielding a machete, then turned and produced a hunting knife from inside his clothing. Tasers were unsuccessful in stopping Kaiyew, who advanced toward the officers swinging the machete before he was shot.

Three officers — the Vermilion County deputy as well as a members of the University of Illinois police and Champaign County Sheriff’s Department — fired a total of five shots at Kaiyewu.

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