Shooting of Rockford teen 'Justified'

ROCKFORD - Winnebago County State's Attorney Joe Bruscato says Logan Bell was shot by officers Andre Brass, Phillip Statler and Jeremiah Cizerle on October 11th. 

The officers responded to the 18-hundred block of South Central Avenue after relatives called 911 concerned Logan Bell was a threat to himself. 

After Logan Bell refused orders to drop what initially appeared to be a hand gun, all three officers shot at Bell killing him.

Officers later determined Bell was actually holding a BB gun.

Winnebago County Coroner Sue Fiduccia says officers fired 16 shots that hit Logan Bell in the head, arm, leg, back and chest.

Winnebago County State's Attorney Joe Bruscato says investigators believe Logan Bell was intent on dying by way of suicide by cop, after he led officers on a chase and refused police orders that would have prevented him from being shot.

18-year-old Logan Bell was first spotted by officers walking near the 18-hundred block of South Central Avenue.  Officers saw a gun in his hand, gave chase and attempted to stop him.

"Officers' immediate response was not to fire upon Mr. Bell, but to get him to peacefully surrender," said Bruscato.

Officers then drew their guns and told Bell to drop his.

"Offices Statler and sergeant Brass gave commands to Mr. Bell to drop the weapon," said Bruscato.

Bruscato says officer Brass began to approach Bell from 20 yards away, that's when bell told officers "shoot me, shoot me, you're going to have to shoot me, I'm not going to drop the gun," said Bruscato.

Bell then raised his weapon "at sergeant Brass and began to fire," said Bruscato.

Bruscato says the two other officers saw Bell's gun firing.

"The gun was recoiling and the hand of Mr. Bell was moving," said Bruscato.

Police then shot at him, believing they had hit him.  Bell then moved and crouched down behind one of the squad cars to take cover.

Officers moved into position, saw the gun still in Bell's hand, and fire again.

Police then approached Bell and discovered the weapon he was holding was BB gun.

"The gun appeared and operated as real firearm," said Bruscato.

Investigators purchased the same BB gun Bell had to demonstrate it's similarity to a real hand gun at a news press conference on Thursday.

"It is the same make and model that Mr. Bell possessed on that day," said Bruscato.

Bell had been previsouly diagnosed with bi-polar disorder.  Bruscato says he had no other mental health disorders.

Fiduccia says toxicology reports show bell only marijuana in his system when he died.  "So the medication that he was prescribed by his doctor for bi-polar, he was not taking," said Fiduccia.

Fiduccia says two of the 16 bullets that hit bell inflicted deadly wounds.

Bruscato says none of the officers involved were hit by any of the BB's shot by bell.

All officers were placed on paid administrative leave when the shooting took place and all three will return to work in the next few days.