Kane County State’s Attorney Jamie Mosser has absolved two Aurora police officers of any wrongdoing in the officer-involved fatal shooting of 27-year-old Temesgen Welendreyas of Aurora in January. Mosser’s report, issued Friday, justified the shooting as self-defense and the defense of others.
The investigation was conducted by the Fox Valley Major Crimes Task Force* and reviewed by the Kane County State’s Attorney’s Office. It found that on January 21, 2026, Welendreyas battered and threatened his housemate with a knife, and his housemate contacted the police. Aurora police officers were dispatched to the residence, located on the 300 block of Broadway Avenue in Aurora, and arrived at approximately 12:42pm.
By then, Welendreyas had barricaded himself in his room and was refusing to come out or open the door. Aurora police officers attempted to speak with Welendreyas over a period of 17 minutes, deployed non-lethal de-escalation tools, and eventually obtained a key to the door. When officers made entry to the room, Welendreyas advanced toward them, swinging a knife. Welendreyas also had what appeared to be a gas can in his other hand, later determined to have diesel fuel in it. Two officers fired four shots in total. Officers disarmed Welendreyas and immediately began life-sustaining measures…