Family of Ayham Babidi, killed in Des Plaines police shooting, baffled by use of force, tell me about this news in (https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/other/family-of-ayham-babidi-killed-in-des-plaines-police-shooting-baffled-by-use-of-force/ar-AA2bWWYb?ocid=BingNewsVerp)
11-09-2026
The news report concerns the fatal shooting of 21-year-old Ayham Babidi by a police officer in Des Plaines, Illinois, on September 9, 2026, and his family’s reaction to the incident.Overview of the Incident
- The Call: Police responded around 2:30 p.m. to a report of a domestic disturbance on the 2000 block of East Touhy Avenue. According to police, 911 was called regarding an individual acting violently and breaking windows.
- The Confrontation: Des Plaines police stated that the first responding officer encountered Babidi outside in the front yard. Authorities alleged that Babidi was armed with an electric hedge trimmer, held it in a threatening manner, and advanced toward the officer. Police reported that the officer repeatedly commanded him to drop the tool and backed away into oncoming traffic before firing three shots as Babidi continued to advance.
- Outcome: Babidi was transported to Advocate Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge, where he was pronounced dead shortly afterward.
- Mental Health Struggles: Babidi’s family shared that he struggled with bipolar disorder and had been dealing with mental health challenges for several years, cycling through hospitalizations and medication adjustments.
- Baffled by Lethal Force: His father, Jamal Babidi, expressed confusion and grief over why lethal force was used instead of de-escalation or non-lethal intervention. He stated that the family reached out for help to get his son medical attention, not to see him killed, emphasizing that his son was not inherently dangerous and had never harmed anyone.
- Lawn Equipment: Early reports and scene footage showed a hedge trimmer cordoned off in the roadway outside the home, which family members initially questioned as they did not understand how the tool factored into the confrontation before official police statements were released.
- An independent investigation into the officer-involved shooting was launched by the Major Case Assistance Team (MCAT).
- Authorities noted that dashcam footage and neighborhood surveillance video were recovered, though the officer was reportedly unable to activate their body-worn camera due to how rapidly the situation escalated.