John Nightingale, a 36-year-old male from Wauconda, IL, died on April 7, 2014, following a confrontation with police officers. The incident occurred at his home on the 100 block of Slocum Lake Road. Police were responding to a call from Nightingale's roommate, who reported that Nightingale was wanted by Cary police for a stolen pickup truck. Upon arrival, officers encountered Nightingale in a doorway at the back of the house. Nightingale pointed a loaded .38-caliber snub-nosed revolver at the officers and refused to put it down despite multiple orders to do so. In response, the officers fired eight shots, four of which struck Nightingale. He was pronounced dead at Advocate Condell Medical Center in Libertyville.
The officers involved in the shooting were cleared of any wrongdoing following an investigation by the Lake County Major Crime Task Force. The investigation concluded that the officers' use of force was justified, as they believed they were in imminent danger of being shot. The officers, whose names were not disclosed, were both experienced members of the force, with one having 15 years of service and the other 20 years. They returned to active duty shortly after the incident.
Nightingale did not have a valid firearm owner's identification card, and authorities were awaiting the results of a ballistic test on the gun to determine if it had been used in other crimes. The investigation into the shooting lasted more than a week, and the Lake County State's Attorney's office supported the decision to clear the officers, stating that the shooting was justified based on the circumstances.
