The Brief
- A man who fatally shot his father during a home invasion in Plano led police on a 25-minute chase that ended in Aurora, where he was shot and killed by officers.
- Authorities say Nicholas Novak exited his vehicle with a shotgun, pointed it at police, and fired before being struck.
- The DuPage County State’s Attorney ruled the officers’ use of deadly force was justified.
AURORA, Ill. – Two law enforcement officers who fatally shot a man at the end of a police pursuit last fall will not face criminal charges, DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin announced Thursday.
After reviewing an investigation by the Illinois State Police, Berlin determined Plano Police Officer David Svehla and Kendall County Sheriff’s Deputy Tyler Giannotti were legally justified in using deadly force during the Sept. 27, 2024 shooting of 36-year-old Nicholas Novak in Aurora.
Deadly police shooting
The backstory:
Authorities said the incident began with a 911 call from Novak’s father, 70-year-old Russell Novak, who reported a home invasion at his Plano residence. He told dispatchers that firearms were missing and there were signs of forced entry. Officers responding to the scene were later informed by a neighbor that shots had been fired.…