Police fatally shoot man who reportedly displayed fake gun in Highwood

A Highwood police officer shot and killed a man who brandished a replica firearm on Thursday evening, according to a press release from the Lake County Major Crime Task Force, the organization investigating the shooting.

The Lake County coroner identified the deceased as Richard Garfinkle, 58, of Highwood.

According to the release, police were called to a residence in the 200 block of Morgan Place in Highwood to check on a Garfinkle, who was “highly intoxicated” and in distress. The caller said that Garfinkle was “upset with the recent passing” of a family member, had access to a knife and was with another person, said Christopher Covelli, a spokesman for the task force.

Garfinkle reportedly had locked himself in a bathroom with officers attempting to speak with him outside of the door for “several minutes.”

Officers observed that the man was “extremely agitated,” Covelli said, and were trying to verbally de-escalate and get him professional care.

The man then reportedly said he was armed and he “hoped officers were wearing their vests” before “abruptly” exiting the bathroom and pointing what appeared to be a pistol toward the officers.

The release says an officer shot the man, who was transported to Highland Park Hospital and pronounced dead. The corner’s report stated Garfinkle died from multiple gunshot wounds.

“He was shot within a couple of seconds after exiting the bathroom,” Covelli said, “which came after officers attempted to de-escalate the man for several minutes, while he was still in the bathroom.” 

The initial investigation shows the man’s apparent firearm was a “replica pistol,” according to the release.

Covelli said the officers thought the weapon was real and “they immediately went into life-saving measures after they fired.”

The officer who fired his weapon reportedly was transported to the hospital for evaluation.

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