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OFFICE OF THE STATE'S ATTORNEY
LAKE COUNTY, ILLINOIS
MICHAEL G. NERHEIM
STATE'S ATTORNEY
April 28, 2015
For Immediate Release
Contact: Cynthia Vargas
(847) 377-3188
cvargas@lakecountyil.gov
A Statement from the Lake County State's Attorney
Earlier today, Lake
County Coroner Thomas Rudd released the autopsy results in the investigation
into the death of Justus Howell. A “homicide” includes any killing
of a human being by another human being. That this case is a “homicide”
is clear and the Coroner’s finding was expected. The question that
remains is whether this is a justifiable homicide. This determination
hinges on a complete evaluation of the facts and circumstances surrounding the
incident. For those purposes, an independent investigation is
necessary. This case is not being investigated by the Zion Police
Department. The Lake County Major Crimes Taskforce (LCMCTF) is conducting this
investigation and we have also sought an additional independent review by the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI). Once the LCMCTF and the FBI have concluded the investigation, all of
the facts and evidence will be reviewed to determine whether or not criminal charges
are warranted. We are committed to a complete, thorough, and prompt
investigation- in that order. I understand the public’s desire for
information in this case, but that has to be balanced with our mission to
protect the integrity of the investigation. I call on the entire
community to respect the investigative process, the family of Justus Howell,
and the Officer involved and not to pre-judge this situation without having any
facts. The investigation remains ongoing and active. The LCMCTF has
sought video enhancement from outside agencies as well as the use of other
outside experts for additional independent review. I have been advised
that the investigation should be concluded within approximately two
weeks. Once the investigation is complete, I will make a determination
based solely on the facts and the law and will release the information that
resulted in that decision to the public.
-Michael G. Nerheim
Lake County State's Attorney
Lake County State's Attorney's Office 18 N. County Street Waukegan, IL 60085 Phone: (847) 377-3000
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