Illinois State Police have released body camera footage of Peoria officers shooting and killing a man who swung a wooden bat at the officers and tried to run away.
In the video of the Aug. 5 incident in the East Bluff neighborhood, 41-year-old Brandon Lewis of Peoria is seen swinging the bat. He hits one of the officers.
One officer responded by firing a taser. Another officer — the one hit by the bat — shot Lewis as he tried to flee.
After being shot, Lewis continued running away. Officers caught up with an injured Lewis again behind a nearby residential building, where he was handcuffed.
"What did I do?" Lewis asked the officers again. "What am I doing?"
The officers then moved Lewis, who was still responsive.
"Are you able to get yourself up?" they ask. "Yeah," he replied.
Lewis died moments later, at the scene.
The incident started when police told Lewis they planned to detain him for public urination on the sidewalk. An officer ordered him several times to stand up as he sat while holding the bat. As the officer slowly took three steps toward Lewis, he stood up and swung the bat at them.
The Peoria County Coroner’s Office said Lewis died from a gunshot wound to the stomach.
State Police say they are releasing the video after consulting with the Peoria County State's Attorney and sharing it with Lewis' family.
Peoria Police Chief Eric Echevarria had placed two officers on critical incident leave following the incident.
When asked about the status of the officers on Friday, the department replied it’s referring media to Illinois State Police.
“They are still investigating that case,” Peoria Police said in a statement.
The Peoria County State’s Attorney’s Office has not immediately responded to a request for comment.
