East Moline officers fired in shooting of elderly man on motorized scooter [VIDEOS]

In a tragic incident that happened on May 17, Rock Island County State's Attorney Dora Villarreal said the actions of two East Moline police officers were justified in the shooting that killed 'an 80-year-old man, identified as Eugene. Mewes.

The series of events unfolded at the Hometown Harbor Apartment Complex on 49th Avenue in East Moline, where police officers responded to a call reporting a man with a gun. It was revealed that the previous day there had been a physical altercation between Mewes and a maintenance worker over work done at Mewes' residence, which led to police intervention.

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On May 17, the same maintenance worker called police, alerting them that Mewes had pointed a gun at him and fired, narrowly missing him. Agent Garrett Kistner quickly arrived at the scene, a fact that was also corroborated by Villarreal's assessment and information from official sources.

According to Villarreal's report based on footage recovered from the scene, the encounter unfolded as follows: Mewes was positioned on a motorized scooter, holding a semi-automatic handgun under his chin near the complex's community room and from East Moline Christian School.

Upon their arrival, officers immediately ordered Mewes to drop the weapon. However, Mewes consistently expressed his refusal, even going so far as to ask the officers to shoot him. He also revealed that his finger was on the trigger of the gun, intensifying the gravity of the situation.

Despite repeated orders, Mewes persisted, prompting Officer Kistner and Lt. Dustin Edkin to take the necessary action. Lt. Edkin fired a single shot, which struck the handlebars of Mewes' motorcycle, causing him to lean momentarily, but he then repositioned himself and pointed the gun at Officer Kistner.

Sensing the immediate threat to their lives, both Lieutenant Edkin and Officer Kistner unloaded their weapons, and Mewes dropped the weapon to the ground. In an attempt to help him, Officer Kistner quickly retrieved a medical kit from his squad car and began rendering aid to Mewes. Additional officers joined in administering medical aid until emergency medical services arrived to transport Mewes to a nearby hospital.

Tragically, Mewes suffered life-threatening injuries and succumbed to his injuries on May 20 at OSF Peoria. An autopsy and hospital reports confirmed Mewes had suffered four gunshot wounds.

In her statement, the lawyer for the Villarreal State concluded that the agents' actions were justified based on the evidence presented. The decision was made after an extensive assessment of the incident, including footage, witness statements and other relevant factors.

The case continues to be an event that shows the complex and difficult situations that law enforcement officers face every day. As the investigation concludes, the community mourns the loss of a life while recognizing the officers' adherence to their duty to protect and serve.

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