DES PLAINES, Ill. — A 21-year-old Des Plaines man was fatally shot by a police officer Wednesday after authorities said he approached the officer while holding an electric hedge trimmer and continued moving toward him despite repeated commands to drop it.
Ayham Babidi was shot after officers responded to a domestic disturbance at a home in the 2000 block of Touhy Avenue at about 2:30 p.m. Wednesday, according to Des Plaines police.
Police said dispatchers had reported that a man at the residence was acting violently and breaking windows.
The first officer to arrive encountered Babidi in the front yard, where police said he was holding an electric hedge trimmer. According to the department, Babidi moved toward the officer while holding the trimmer in a threatening manner.
The officer ordered him to put it down, but police said Babidi refused and continued advancing.
The officer then backed away across the street while continuing to give commands, according to police. Authorities said Babidi kept moving toward the officer, who fired three shots.
Babidi was given medical treatment at the scene and taken to a hospital, where he later died.
Police said the officer’s patrol-car dashboard camera and security cameras from nearby homes captured portions of the encounter. The officer did not have enough time to activate a body-worn camera before the confrontation, according to the department.
The video has become part of the ongoing investigation and has not been released. Police said releasing the footage at this stage could interfere with the active investigation.
The Major Case Assistance Team is conducting the investigation into the shooting.
The incident had initially drawn a large police response to the neighborhood, and Touhy Avenue was closed between Des Plaines River Road and Scott Street while investigators worked at the scene. Authorities said there was no continuing threat to the public.
Babidi’s family has described a different picture of the 21-year-old’s circumstances. His relatives said he had struggled with bipolar disorder and had experienced mental health difficulties before the shooting.
His father said the family had tried to get Babidi additional help and that he attempted to take his son to a hospital the day before the shooting.
The family also said Babidi was a graduate of Maine West High School. District 207 confirmed that he graduated in 2023, while Oakton College said he had attended classes there, most recently in 2024.
His family has questioned the use of deadly force and said they did not believe Babidi intended to hurt anyone. His father said the family had previously contacted police in hopes of getting help for his son’s mental health struggles.
The circumstances surrounding the shooting remain under investigation. Investigators are expected to review available video and other evidence as they work to establish the full sequence of events leading up to the officer’s use of force.
