Crystal Lake man shot by police was holding butter knife, defense attorney says

WOODSTOCK – A Crystal Lake man was holding a butter knife when he was shot by police, attorneys said Wednesday in McHenry County Court.

Joseph A. Laudicina also did not flee from police and let Crystal Lake Officer Kris Kroll into the home, said his defense attorney, Assistant Public Defender Angelo Mourelatos, in asking the judge to reduce his client's bond.

Those details do not change the prosecution's position that Laudicina "charged" at the officer who shot him at least once.

Assistant State's Attorney Michael Combs said he will proceed with trying the 30-year-old on attempted murder of a police officer and other charges.

According to law enforcement officials, police were called June 22 to a Crystal Lake home on the 800 block of Boxwood Drive, where the shooting occurred in the early morning hours.

Earlier on June 21, police had responded to an another Crystal Lake address for an alleged domestic battery.

In that incident, Laudicina is accused of punching his mother several times and strangling her.

McHenry County Judge Sharon Prather denied any bond reduction because Laudicina was out on bond on a pending 2013 domestic battery case at the time of his recent arrest.

Prather previously had denied lifting a no-contact order, which was requested by his mother who also is the alleged victim in the domestic batteries.

The most serious charge against Laudicina carries special sentencing range of 20 to 80 years because it alleges a crime against a police officer.

He also was indicted on aggravated domestic battery and home and vehicular invasion charges. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges.

Laudicina was in the hospital recovering for more than two weeks before being transferred to the McHenry County Jail, where he's being held in lieu of $475,000 bond. He told the judge he still has a bullet lodged in his body.

His attorneys previously ordered a psychological exam to determine his state of mind at the time of the crime.

Crystal Lake police referred all questions to Illinois State Police, which was called to investigate the officer-involved shooting. ISP officials could not immediately be reached.

Laudicina's next court date is Nov. 4.