A 21-year-old man has died after he was shot by a Des Plaines police officer while officers were responding to a reported domestic disturbance Wednesday afternoon, September 9, 2026, in suburban Chicago.
The incident happened at approximately 2:32 p.m. in the 2000 block of Touhy Avenue. Des Plaines police officers were dispatched to a residence following a report of a domestic disturbance. During the response, an officer-involved shooting occurred involving a male resident of the home.
The man was identified as Ayham Babidi, 21, of Des Plaines. Des Plaines Fire Department personnel provided emergency medical treatment before Babidi was taken to a local hospital, where he later died from his injuries.
The circumstances that led to the shooting have not been fully released. Authorities have not publicly explained what happened inside the home immediately before the officer fired, whether Babidi was armed or whether a weapon was recovered. Investigators are continuing to work to establish the sequence of events.
Police temporarily shut down a section of Touhy Avenue between Des Plaines River Road and Scott Street as investigators processed the scene. Residents and motorists were asked to avoid the area while the investigation was underway.
Neighbors described hearing an argument and screaming around the time of the shooting. Police activity remained concentrated around the residence as investigators gathered evidence and worked to determine what occurred during the domestic disturbance call.
The death has brought grief to Babidi’s family and those who knew him, while the circumstances surrounding the fatal encounter remain under investigation. His father told CBS Chicago that Babidi had documented mental-health struggles and did not own a weapon, though investigators have not publicly confirmed whether a weapon was involved in the confrontation.
The Major Case Assistance Team is investigating the shooting and will conduct an independent review of the circumstances surrounding the officer-involved shooting. Officials have not announced any charges against the officer involved.
Authorities have emphasized that there is no ongoing threat to the public connected to the incident. The investigation remains active, and additional information is expected as investigators continue reviewing evidence and determining what led to the fatal shooting.
For the Des Plaines community, the incident has left residents confronting the death of a young man while awaiting answers about what happened inside the Touhy Avenue home. The investigation is expected to focus on the events leading up to the shooting and the actions of everyone involved.
