Man Charges at Naperville Officer With an Axe — Bodycam Captures It

A routine traffic stop in Naperville, Illinois, suddenly became a deadly confrontation when a second vehicle pulled alongside the officer and a man emerged carrying a hatchet. The entire encounter was captured by the officer's body-worn camera and patrol-car camera.

A ROUTINE TRAFFIC STOP TAKES A SUDDEN TURN

On June 3, 2022, at about 11 a.m., a Naperville officer was conducting a traffic stop on Bond Street near McDowell Road. The officer had been speaking with the driver for roughly 11 minutes when a silver sedan approached and stopped nearby.

The officer turned toward the unexpected vehicle and questioned the driver.

WITHIN SECONDS, THE SITUATION CHANGED COMPLETELY.

The driver, later identified as 28-year-old Edward C. Samaan, opened the door and exited the vehicle while holding a hatchet.

THE SUSPECT CHARGES

Video released by the Naperville Police Department shows Samaan moving rapidly toward the officer with the hatchet in his right hand.

The officer immediately stepped backward, drew his firearm and fired as Samaan continued advancing.

THE ENTIRE CONFRONTATION UNFOLDED IN ONLY A FEW SECONDS.

According to the Daily Herald, the officer fired six shots before Samaan fell to the roadway. The officer then called for assistance and ordered Samaan not to move.

THE BODYCAM REVEALS THE FINAL MOMENTS

The released footage included both body-worn-camera and in-car-camera recordings, giving investigators and the public different views of the encounter.

Samaan was taken to a nearby hospital but was pronounced dead. The officer involved, a 22-year veteran of the Naperville Police Department, was not injured.

THE BODYCAM FOOTAGE DOCUMENTED THE MOMENTS LEADING FROM AN UNRELATED TRAFFIC STOP TO THE FATAL CONFRONTATION.

The DuPage County Metropolitan Emergency Response and Investigative Team and the DuPage County State's Attorney's Office conducted an independent investigation.

INVESTIGATION INTO THE SHOOTING

After reviewing the evidence, including bodycam footage, squad-car video, witness statements and physical evidence, DuPage County State's Attorney Robert Berlin announced in August 2022 that no criminal charges would be filed against Officer Frank Tonkovich. Prosecutors determined the shooting was justified under the circumstances described in their investigation.

WHAT BEGAN AS A ROUTINE TRAFFIC STOP ENDED WITH A FATAL ENCOUNTER THAT LASTED ONLY SECONDS.

The case also became an early example of the value of Naperville's newly implemented body-camera program, as the footage provided a detailed record of the rapidly unfolding encounter.