On June 3 at around 11:00 a.m. the officer pulled a driver off to the side of the road for a minor infraction and was about to conduct a standard traffic stop. That’s when body camera video released by the Naperville Police Department showed the hatchet-wielding suspect’s car pulling up next to the officer.
The officer can be heard asking, “Who are you, dude?” as the suspect jumped out of his car. Immediately the suspect charges at the officer, holding the hatchet, at which point the officer opened fire multiple times.
“I’ve just been attacked, shots fired, shots fired!” the officer can be heard saying on his radio.
“Oh, my G–! Holy s—!” the officer exclaimed as he tries to collect himself following this quick and unexpected attack.
“Stay in your car, man! Don’t move!” he yelled to the driver he originally stopped, who was only feet away from the attack.
The officer called for emergency medical services, who took the suspect, Edward C. Samaan, age 28, to the hospital where he was pronounced dead.
Naperville Police Chief Jason Arres shared that thankfully the officer and bystander did not suffer any injuries, however “any loss of life is tragic” and their “thoughts” were with the suspect’s family.
Arres also mentioned that the recent incident serves to demonstrate “just how dangerous the job of a police officer is.”
An investigation is currently underway to gather information on the motive behind the suspect driving up and attacking the officer, who is a 22-year police veteran.
The video footage of the attack can be viewed here
