Daniel W. Curtin Sr Obituary, Death – A 72-year-old LaSalle man was fatally shot by police on Sunday following a prolonged standoff, according to the LaSalle County Coroner’s Office.
Identification and Autopsy
Coroner Rich Ploch identified the deceased as Daniel W. Curtin Sr., who was pronounced dead at the scene. While an autopsy was performed, the official findings have not yet been released.
Incident Overview
According to LaSalle Police Chief Mike Smudzinski, officers from both LaSalle and Peru responded to a call around 1:30 p.m. about a suicidal individual armed with a firearm at a residence on the 600 block of Chatres Street.
When officers arrived, Curtin emerged from the building, fired a shot into the air, and then retreated back inside. Concerned for public safety, police established a perimeter and requested additional support, including the LaSalle County Sheriff’s Office Tactical Response Team.
Authorities evacuated nearby homes and businesses as a precaution, and power to the building was shut off.
Standoff and Escalation
For over 90 minutes, trained personnel attempted to de-escalate the situation and convince Curtin to surrender peacefully. However, according to Smudzinski, Curtin repeatedly exited the building with the firearm in a manner that posed a threat to public safety.
At one point, Curtin reportedly fired his weapon out of a window in the direction of officers.
Then, around 4 p.m., Curtin exited the building again and allegedly pointed his firearm at police. In response, an officer discharged their weapon, striking Curtin.
Emergency medical personnel immediately rendered aid, but Curtin was pronounced dead at the scene.
Earlier Incident and Investigation
Authorities also revealed that earlier that day, Curtin had been involved in an incident where a vehicle crashed into a building on the 600 block of First Street.
The Illinois State Police have been called in to conduct an independent investigation into the shooting.
Agencies Involved
Multiple law enforcement agencies assisted in the response, including the LaSalle County Sheriff’s Office, Bureau County Sheriff’s Office, Illinois State Police, Illinois Conservation Police, and several local police and fire departments.
