Bodycam video released by Illinois State Police shows that local law enforcement acted professionally as they tried to restrain a man who fatally shot himself during a struggle at an Effingham church on July 5, said Effingham Police Chief Kurt Davis and Effingham County Sheriff Paul Kuhns.
State police released the video of the shooting at St. John’s Lutheran Church because of a “commitment to integrity and public transparency.”
“This video contains graphic content,” state police warn at the start of the video. “Viewer discretion is advised.”
The recording lasts eight minutes and 18 seconds, made from three bodycams worn by members of the Effingham Police Department and Effingham County Sheriff’s Office. It depicts the moments leading up to the struggle with Allen O. Gattino, the struggle, and its immediate aftermath.
Gattino, 36, of St. Charles, Missouri, died the next day after the concealed weapon he pulled out, while prone and resisting the officers, discharged.
“No!” one officer shouts.
“Shots fired,” another radios to dispatch.
“He still has a gun down there,” says another.
As the hallway outside the church office was cleared, the officers eventually restrained Gattino and recovered the weapon. Gattino was taken to a local hospital and later transported by helicopter to a regional hospital. No one else was injured in this incident.
Police Chief Davis told the Effingham Daily News that the video shows law enforcement acted responsibly and according to their training.
“I think that our officers and the sheriff’s department, they acted responsible, they were courteous, they tried to de-escalate the situation,” Davis said. “And I believe that they did a good job.
“Now, obviously, I wish that outcome would have been different, but that was not of our control. And so, although we wish the outcome would have been better, they definitely did their part to try and prevent anything further or even what occurred. And I think the officers did an amazing job and it was a very tough situation for our officers.
“I asked for lots of thoughts and prayers for our officers who, you know, that’s a tragic event for them,” the chief added. “They are human beings, they’re not robots, and they have feelings and emotions. And we’ve done everything we can to check in on them and make sure they have the resources they need and we will continue to do so.”
Davis also praised members of the church.
“They did an amazing job,” he said. “They really did. And we’re very grateful for the information that they were able to share with us when our officers were dispatched. Our thoughts and prayers are with them, too, as they had to process this very tragic incident as well.”
Sheriff Kuhns also praised the professionalism shown by law enforcement.
“I think that they acted in a very reasonable manner and were only trying to detain and hold him when he jerked away and started to flee or wanted to get away,” Kuhns told the Daily News. “I mean they couldn’t let him leave under the totality of the circumstances and they didn’t do anything to try to harm him – just to detain him. Unfortunately, it all happened so fast that of course they weren’t aware he had a weapon on his person.
“You never know, especially with people that are, perhaps, suffering from a mental illness or imbalance. You can’t predict what they’re going to do.
“It’s unfortunate that the young man lost his life,” Kuhns added. “I feel bad for everybody involved. I don’t know this young man’s story or what led him up to that day, but I do know that our officers are there, and they’re doing fine, but they’re also dealing with this.
“It’s what we do. Over the years, I’ve had a few of these things similar to this and you carry them with you. You never forget them.”
The video can be viewed by visiting ispvideos.illinois.gov and clicking the link to “Officer Involved Critical incidents” and then “Effingham, IL 07-05-26”