LASALLE, IL – A tense standoff between police and an armed man ended in tragedy Sunday afternoon when officers fatally shot 72-year-old Daniel W. Curtin Sr. outside his home on Chatres Street. The incident capped a harrowing series of events that began with reports of a suicidal individual and culminated in a nearly three-hour confrontation.
The crisis began around 1:30 p.m. when LaSalle and Peru police responded to calls about an armed man threatening self-harm at a residence in the 600 block of Chatres Street. According to LaSalle Police Chief Mike Smudzinski, Curtin initially emerged from the building, fired a shot into the air, then retreated inside, prompting a massive law enforcement response.
Authorities quickly established a perimeter and evacuated nearby homes and businesses as specialized units, including the LaSalle County Sheriff’s Tactical Response Team, arrived on scene. For over 90 minutes, negotiators attempted to peacefully resolve the situation while power to the building was cut as a safety precaution. The standoff escalated when Curtin allegedly fired his weapon from a window toward officers before exiting the building again around 4 p.m.
“Despite repeated attempts at de-escalation, the subject advanced while armed in a threatening manner,” Chief Smudzinski stated during a press briefing. When Curtin reportedly pointed his firearm at officers, one officer discharged their weapon, striking the elderly man. Medics rushed to provide aid, but Curtin was pronounced dead at the scene.
The shooting followed an earlier incident where a vehicle – believed to be operated by Curtin – crashed into a building on First Street. The Illinois State Police have taken over the investigation into the officer-involved shooting, standard procedure for such incidents. Multiple agencies assisted during the crisis, including sheriff’s departments from LaSalle and Bureau counties, Illinois State Police, and local emergency services.
LaSalle County Coroner Rich Ploch confirmed Curtin’s identity but declined to release autopsy results pending further investigation. Neighbors described Curtin as a longtime resident who kept to himself, with some expressing shock at the day’s violent turn. The incident marks the first officer-involved shooting in LaSalle in recent memory, leaving this small Illinois River community grappling with the aftermath.
