Kane County State’s Attorney rules St. Charles police officers justified in shooting incident

ST. CHARLES – The Kane County State's Attorney's Office has determined the St. Charles Police Department was justified in its actions when police officers shot and injured a St. Charles man in an incident on Voltaire Lane on April 26.

Kane County State’s Attorney Joe McMahon had asked the Illinois State Police to conduct an independent investigation into the use of force, according to a news release from the Kane County State’s Attorney’s Office. The Police and Community Relations Improvement Act requires an independent investigation of all officer-involved deaths.

Although no deaths occurred in this case, McMahon believed it was appropriate to review the incident in accordance with the act, the release stated. After completing its investigation, the Illinois State Police submitted documents and other materials to the Kane County State’s Attorney’s Office, which reviewed the submissions.

Before the shooting on April 26, Christopher C. Kemble Jr., 20, of the 3400 block of Voltaire Lane, St. Charles, had called 911 to report a burglary in process in his home, and that he believed the intruder had a gun, according to the release. Moments later, someone else called 911 to report that Kemble had his father’s gun and might be suicidal, the release stated.

Two St. Charles officers were sent to the scene and found Kemble outside on Voltaire Lane. Two additional St. Charles officers arrived a short time later.

Officers saw Kemble pull a handgun from behind his back and rack the slide, according to the release. Kemble shouted threats at the officers and at one point advanced toward an officer with his gun pointed at the officer, the release stated.

Three officers fired their weapons at Kemble, striking him. Kemble fell to the ground. It was later determined that Kemble’s weapon was a BB gun, according to the release.

The Kane County State’s Attorney’s Office reviewed the St. Charles officers’ use of force and has determined that there was reasonable belief on the part of the officers that it was necessary to use force intended to cause death or great bodily harm to prevent death or great bodily harm to the officers, and therefore the officer’s use of force was justified, the release stated.

Kemble is charged with the offenses of making a false complaint to 911 and aggravated assault of a police officer, both felonies. His next court appearance is set for 9 a.m. Dec. 7 in front of Circuit Judge James Hallock in Courtroom 313 at the Kane County Judicial Center.