1) When police say "freeze"....FREEZE. 2) Don't slash the face of a policeman and you won't get shot. Very simple rules to live by. My parents always taught me to respect and honor the authorities. "They put their life on the line every day to protect you" is how I was raised. If you have no respect, you'll be shown no respect.....and rightfully so.

Today is a sad day. My heart goes out to his family and friends as they suffer the loss of their son. I hope you can find some peace in this terrible tragedy.

The tragedy is that an officer was injured. Yes, we can feel sad for the family of the young criminal, but dead offenders are not repeat offenders.

I don't know what I bother to read these comments on the patch. So much insensitive hatred. I pray for the officer who must live with this tragedy, and for the family who called the police to their home. This is a sad, heartbreaking situation. He was still someone's child. None of you know the circumstances of this death, and while he is to blame for his actions, there is no excuse for being an insensitive jackass. God bless the officers and family who lived through this.

All of you stop please. He is dead and it is tragic. First they said he "lunged" now he ran towards them. there are two sides to every story. I hope all the people that judge him have something tragic like this happen to them and see how it feels. You good two shoes, think your better than everyone and you never do anything wrong. I know plenty of people who have had their kids do bad things and they were fine parents. The kid was on something AKA HE WAS NOT IN HIS RIGHT MIND. I know him and he was never ever ever violent or out of control. Really you think he was just sitting there watching tv, see a cop and runs at them with a knife. Ok, really. I dont care I dont think they should have shot him in the chest no reason BAD POLICE WORK FOR SURE.TERRIABLE AND I HOPE THEY HAVE TO LIVE WITH THIS THE REST OF THEIR LIFE WHAT THEY DID TO HIM.

At least he didn't come home and find 7 teens hiding in the bathroom.

While I believe this is a tragedy for ALL involved, at what point is it appropriate for the officer to defend herself? Slashing her face isn't enough? Should she have waited until the knife was in her neck? You can bet that the entire incident took only seconds and at the very moment of the attack, years of police training and instinct would have kicked in. While I am certain the family is devastated, I am sure the officer is sharing many of those same feelings.

The officers were called to the scene because the teen was threatening his own family members with a knife. He was warned, he did not listen, he lunged with a deadly weapon. The officer had to protect herself. Heartfelt condolences to everyone involved, but I am so fed up with people not expected to be held accountable for their actions. The police were involved with him before. I did not see anyone blaming the parents. Even the most incredible parents have children who fall off the straight road, we certainly would not blame them. Nothing will come of people making snide comments on here. Pray for everyone involved, hope some lessons were learned. Everyone touched by this has been forever affected negatively.

Really bad police work for defending the officers life??? Come on are you serious? I heard the Officer received treatment for approx 40 stiches to the face. I cant beleive the offender was not shot more tham one time.......I call this great police work. Lets be serious, Police work is unlike anything else out there and its not always Roses

I am a Parent and when I say STOP!!! That's exactly what I mean. Slash my face. Lets just say at least She was licensed to shoot. These KIDS are OUT OF CONTROL. He was being ignorant and the officer was doing her JOB! If it were my child right is right and wrong is wrong. Police don't show up as Social Workers they are BUSY!

Weather a police officer or not the guy came at the human being with a knife and the human being had something to defend herself with...I know a man who was standing in his own yard here in Ridgewood and some guy walked right up and stabbed the guy in the chest he died in the door way trying to tell everyone he was stabbed..The guy that stabbed him just got into it with his ole lady he is now in prison but he walked down the stree.my friend was playing in the yard keeping an eye on the kids guy walked up and got him right in the heart...So yeah I am in all favor if you come at someone with a knife.....you get shot,buried and the world moves on...

I am a near by neighbor and have to drive past this home and it is sad to see the scence. My heart is with all involved and my condolences goes out to the mother whom lost a child rather good or bad a piece of her heart is gone forever.

My deepest sympathy to both familes. This was a tragic situation. Unfortuntely the family called the police to assist with a situation and now a young man is dead. Question - why did the office not shot to disarm the young man by shooting him in the arm or leg versus the chest (which in my opinion is shooting to kill)?

The story mentioned the possible use of drugs as being a factor and I think drugs played a role in what happened.I don't live in Cresthill but my home borders the area and I know a lot of drugs are sold there.These chemical drugs that kids are smoking nowadays cause them to do some very crazy things and these drugs are not hard to find and are cheap.Until Will County makes an honest effort to get these drugs off the streets more and more young kids are going to find themselves with guns pointed at them because they went crazy and tried to hurt someone.

My heart goes out to Pepes family and to the officer who will have to live with very real scars forever. I did know Pepe and he was a great kid. He also made a lot of mistakes and when you choose to do drugs you have to choose to live or die with some very real consequences. I hope his so called friends that helped shape the past two years of his life with drugs wake up and get help. I wish Pepe would have gotten help instead of choosing to mess with drugs. Lets face it we can debate an officers actions in hindsight forever but in that moment im sure she did what she thought was right to defend herself and I probably would have done the same thing. Im sure his parents have a thousand what ifs in their minds concerning that night. The truth is the only what if that could have truly stopped all of this is if Pepe would have made the choice not to do drugs.

My condolence to the family, we're going to miss him dearly. He was a teen, and somebodies baby so please have some Respect. As far as the police they can TASER the boy NOT SHOT him. He was on drugs, taser would have been the right thing.

He was on out of his mind on something so HMMMM . . . lets appoach him and get close enought so he can stab me. Did the partner shoot him? NO. The family was still in the house. Why didn't they get them out first, approach the suspect with extream caution. Obviously something went way wrong way fast. I think the officer got scared and knee jerk respons was to pull the trigger. I just wish she would have aimed for his foot or hand or someplace other than his chest. None of us where there so we cant speak to what exactly happened. The reality is that the investigation will reveal what happened and what could have been done. I love all the "arm chair" Police investigators that have everything figured out. NO Pepe was not a criminal. he was not a gang banger he was a kid on something. He was in school, getting passing grades, he had friends, he had a life. He wasn't walking around with guns and knifes out to kill people. He was a very young kid who did something that made him lose his mind. Again, since some of you know so much about poice procedure. What is the procedure for approaching a suspect with a knife who is high on something? IDK I am a simple person and am not up on the latest police procedures, but I do have a bit of common sense and can reason that something could have been done better. I am so sick of the know it all and judgmental attitudes. Just wait something some day is going to happen to you or your family and you may understand at that point.

Well, sounds to me like the punk got what he deserved. You DON'T come at a sheriff's deputy slashing with a knife. You WILL get shot. Nobody cares what kind of day the jerk had that brought him to that state. Calm the hell down, put the damn knife down and obey the officers. I hope the sheriff's deputy recovers fully and has a long and fulfilling career.

This is very tragic for all involved. The boys' family, that goes without saying..the officer, her family..friends , loved ones on both sides. This is not how God intended for this to end or even happen. I hope in my heart that Jose knew God..had a relationship with him even in the midst of his pain and apparent drug issues. Unfortunately this all boils down to consequences the choices that were made even though it was a mistake. Even though in my mind everyone deserves a second chance. However just because I believe that everyone makes mistakes and deserves a second chance doesn't protect them from the consequences of their ch mistake. It's an honor and a priviledge to be given a second chance in life...not a requirement. Yes he made a bad choice and should be given another chance but that doesn't take away the fact or the details of that one bad choice. We are not entitled to a do over. We are responsible for our actions and must suffer the consequences. That's harsh and sad I know but it's life. in today's world we are always trying to fine a way out or a way around consequences. A quick fix for mistakes . Sometimes there are ways out..but sometimes life hits us with reality. I know this doesn't make it any easier for the parties involved to get through their grief but if anything positive can come out of this at least for me..who is removed from the situation...I will use it as a lesson to teach my children the truth about drugs , choices and consequences.

I am embarrassed to live by any of you negative people. Always taking the news and reposting mean things. Both these families need to be prayed for. This is what is wrong with our society, the devil overtaking your thoughts. Control yourselves and have respect for these families. U would like to apologize to both families and may God be in your hearts during these hard times.

Sorry to hear the boy died. Maybe these kids will learn that doing illegal drugs has a price. You start out smoking pot because you think it makes you look cool. Cool rhymes with fool. You then move on to other illegal drugs. Drugs that you kids don't understand. You think you do but they effect everyone differently. Two families are torn by this tragedy. The deputy has to live with this the rest of her life. She was doing her job. What did you people expect her to do? Let him kill her? @Laura - you lost a friend but explain how the deputy was to know "The kid was on something AKA HE WAS NOT IN HIS RIGHT MIND." She was doing her JOB. Let's not blame her for his decision to do drugs. If you have other friends doing drugs, hopefully they will learn from this tragedy and get some help.

Like I said before it is a tragedy for all involved !!! To young to die if it were my child It would kill me and if it were my childs friend which he was it would kill them !!! Its just a sad sad day for Pepe and his family!! None of us were there so we really do not know what happen and probably never will ! REST IN PEACE PEPE YOU WILL BE MISSED!!!

About time one of the good guys/gals win for a change instead of the dirt bag.

Lee the bad guy should have used a butter knife instead of a steak knife..you idiot

After 30 years as a Firefighter/Paramedic, I've repeatedly seen how drugs can change a calm, collected, rational person into an absolute lunatic. I've been met at front doors with baseball bats, shotguns, pistols, fists, attack dogs, and much more. In my profession, all I had for defense was my fists or my legs.
When it comes to drugs, the effect they have on a person is irrelevant to their age. They (drugs) can and do change a person and their thought process.
I salute out law enforcement officers. Their's is a difficult job. They go to work every day not knowing if they'll come home at the end of their shift. It's a job I wouldn't want.
Yes, it's too bad that a 17 year old is dead. Yes, it's sad that a mother and father have lost a son.but what's really sad is that a police officer will have to live the rest of her life knowing she took the life of another human being. And, should anyone think that over time she'll forget, you are wrong. She will have scars that will be a constant reminder of those circumstances.
My prayers go out to the boy's family and to the officer and her family.

It's very very sad that this young man died and my prayers goes to the family and friends. But the people think the officer should have used a taser instead of a gun you are not smart. I've seen people on drugs rip it right off and keep acting Insain. The officer did the right thing to save her LiFE! She was there to help not have a 17 year old slash her in the face!!! If she used a taser and the young man killed her what would you say?!?! "idiot should of shot him!!"" see so shut up and be thankful the officer lived also if you think you did wrong you are messed up!!! Hope for a fast recover for both families.

You are totally correct Tyler. People watch too much TV and think they know the law. If an officer shoots you in the hand, foot, knee, anywhere, it is considered deadly force. A taser is a step above a baton or pepper spray and not used to disarm a person with a weapon. When you call the police, they handle the situation as they are trained, NOT according to what you want. None of the family tried to disarm him, and no where in the article did it mention what the father was doing during this incident. The officer probably saved her own life and her partners by acting as she did.

None of you would be critcizing the officer had they let the boy run off or tasered him and the boy then went and killed innocent people or worse children. Think of Sandyhook, or the movie theatre massacre - the anger/drugs/mental illness that those boys had. This is one less potential threat to my kids and family in school or a shopping mall. I am sad for the family and thankful to the officer who risked their life to save others. I pray everyday that the world has less anger, drugs and violence - until then, the police should do EXACTLY what they did. If this gets angry, mentally disturbed or drug taking thugs off the streets then so be it.

What good are the woulda, shoulda, couldas now? A kid is dead and an officer is hurt. Thats the jist of it. As a parent, I am saddened by the fact that the young man made some bad choices leading up to his demise. As former law enforcement, I believe the Officer took the action she felt was necessary to protect herself and others close by.

The situation is unfortunate either way. Sad that there will be a funeral that the family has to prepare for, and sad that the Officer is scarred...both physically and mentally.

I searched for an ounce of sympathy for the young man. It missed me. His mother maybe. His family as well as the officer was in danger, that's how she got slashed let's not kid ourselves. I didn't equate the mass murders W troubled kids but that is a great point! There recently was a story where the father was killed a son injured/ murdered by a person under the influence by his other son. Bet that dad would've said "Shoot his ... In the head!". Get It Done. I hope the officer is able to dust her shoulders off and cont' to PROTECT AND SERVE me!

>>Its like a roofer goes up on a roof all the time. They know they have a high potential to fall of the roof.

They are employed to put on roofs, not fall off them.

It's not a deputy's job description to get cut. It is a risk, it is not a reasonable expectation.

My heart swells with pride that the Deputy is alive, basically well, and has put this mutt down.

Don't do drugs!

May God have mercy on us all. The "teenager" was alleged to be on drugs...okay. The family called the police for assistance...okay. The teenager was shot & subsequently died...okay. One officer was slashed with a knife & fired in self defense....okay. My questions are: 1. Why aren't the police taught to disarm an attacker with a knife? 2. Did the family want their family member shot to death or were they asking for help? If one of the family members had shot the teenager..would they be prosecuted? Why did the police use a gun to defend against a knife? Why is the government trying so hard to disarm the citizens of this great country? I will think twice about calling the police for help if a family member is having problems. I would appreciate their help but I don't want anyone killed. This lady cop should rethink her career choice & get a safer job. My heart & sympathy go out to the family of the deceased. Now you folks are free to opine.

Why should she reconsider her career choice? You think she did wrong? Wow. I feel sorry for everyone who thinks that. Her life was threatened. Tactical training commenced. He didn't "just" have a knife like it was some kind of fashion statement. Lunging/running at anyone with a knife, which IS a deadly weapon (is your mind blown yet?), constitutes as an immediate threat of death. Ask ANY police officer what they're trained to do when they're in a situation like that. Immobilize the threat by the quickest means possible.

Do some research on use of force first.

I'm sickened by anyone who thinks that the deputy acted out of line. Reality is, she did NOT act irrationally.

Now, had "Pepe" not come at her with the knife, had remained 15+ feet away without making any threatening gestures and he was still shot...then THERE is a reason to gripe.

Otherwise, you can't say what you would have done or what should have been done in this situation. Why? 1. You weren't there. 2. You don't have law enforcement training. 3. You weren't the person who's life was threatened.

Let the investigation say otherwise.

Bet you all kinds of money your first reaction to something like that would be to take the individual down before you're killed.

i dont believe what the officer did was wrong. people are just mourning the lost of someone who has influenced their lives. saying that he deserved it and that there are uneducated opinions isnt going to change anything. if you have something to remark about how Pepe has influenced your life, leave it HERE. but if it is something negative please dont. your negative remarks will not tamper with our memories of Pepe, just fuel our anger. RIP Pepe, never forgotten!

Thank all of you for trying to convince me that I am wrong in my ideas. I am sorry the officer got cut with the knife and it is so bad. I am sorry that I don't believe everything has it is reported. I agree with the person who said " if the parents shot him . . . " the parents weren't that worried or they would have run out of the house. He was not holding them at "knife Point". How do all these people know the history of Pepe and all the facts, who's to say they are correct. Yes, people take jobs and know the risk. Since they give officers guns to carry I'm sure that is because they may need it to defend their self. Good point from the Prison guard that they are unarmed and how they handle it in the prison when a crazy prisoner has a sharp object. There are numerous stories of unfair police work. They show up and try to quickly asses whats happening. They do the best they can, but something in this case went way wrong. What happened may be completely different than what anyone thinks happened. He held a 6 year old with the knife. Really Who? What 6 year old. OK really let stop the nut case comments. That is a bunch of BS. What 6 year old, someone off the street? Rumors, hearsay, speculation, Why do I bother posting on this it is a waste of time for me. Pepe is gone; another drug gang banger, killer of the street I suppose. The poor officer has to live with this and her cut, everyone is happy Pepe is dead, God pray for the area with all you folks around.

Pepe had, I would guess over 400 people at his funeral who did not think he should have died. Momof5 I am not apologizing for any of my comments, I am sticking up for a something I believe was wrong. I could care less about what anyone thinks of me, I use my real name. Like I have said over and over we were not witness to this incident and in my book he is innocent until proven guilty. That is our legal system. I am proud to say tonight Pepe was honored like a king! His memory will live forever in the hearts of the many many people that knew and loved him. No, he is not a gang-banging thug that deserved to die over this. R.I.P Pepe Chavez , you died way to young before your time. We love you forever little peppers.

Mom it is easy to see that you have no relationship with anyone in law enforcement. Believe me, that office is a hero in every way. She was attacked with a knife, injured, and still was able to stop her attacker in the ONLY way possible. You may second guess this officer because of something you read or heard about corrections, which is sooo very different from the street. This officer may be sad that she took a life, but she knows as well as the courts, that it was the ONLY choice at the time.

Mom of 5 is a social worker, so she THINKS she's on the sharp end of these situations...but in reality, she has not a clue. Corrections officers go in knowing what to expect with sheilds, pads etc etc.

The deputy didn't react emotionally, she reacted according to her training. Knife=lethal force -----> lethal force right back atcha.

I hope the deputy is sleeping like a baby. Not only was there nothing wrong with what she did, she saved another cop who might not have been ready/willing/able to pull the trigger in time.

And frankly, having worked in the government service sector myself, social workers mainly just kind of get in the way of things. Most are from screwed up families and HAVE screwed up families. It's not surprising their perspective on common-sense behavior is so regularly warped.

Here's a concrete example. I was a paramedic student doing my time in an ER. Whenever a sex assault victim would come in, they would call a social worker as part of their policy. So the detectives would be standing around for 45 minutes with their thumbs up their butt waiting for the "advocate" to stroll in and tell the victim they don't have to talk to the cops, and then leave.

Uh...thanks?

Long live Pepe.
Ill miss you more and more everyday.
Not a second has gone by where I have not been thinking about you.
I love you and always will<3
I will keep all the notes we wrote each other in school forever.
Watch over me and everyone who cares for you.
I hope you are smiling up there.
Rest in Paradise Little Pepe :']

I went to the wake this morning with my 17 year old son. I was happy to see this young man had a large group of friends and family that loved him. And as for Hugo and I. J. and the like, I invite your criticisms.....it only makes my point even more vivid.....you all want to condemn someone because they have a different opinion of a controversial matter....to the point of insulting my profession....so be it. Laura M. defended her loved one and what she believed in and from what I remember of her posts, she did it without any personal insults to anyone. In case you guys have been asleep at the wheel for the better part of the last 10-20 years or more, this isn't the first time someone questions the actions or motives of the police...it is our right to question what our public officials do. I have seen in front of my very eyes in jails, prisons and hospitals, people being disarmed WITHOUT the use of guns or people getting shot. I was merely suggesting that something did not go the way it could have. Maybe the officer had no choice, but I know numerous Chicago officers and county officers and EVERY ONE said that from what is known, this didn't have to happen this way. I'm not trying to demonize the officer. She's a human being and because she's a human being, she's mostly likely not sleeping like a baby at night...she's probably reenacting the whole tragic night over and over and she will be a better officer in the end because of it.

Hey people he is gone LEAVE HIM BE !!!!! REST IN PEACR PEPE YOU ARE MISSED !!!!

PEACE *

Well Mom, I re-read my posts and did not see one insult towards you or anyone else from me. Yes you do have an opinion different than a lot of people, and yes it is your right to question anything you desire. For well over 20+ years my head has not been in the sand but out in the public and I can tell you that the calls the police go on now are very different than years ago. Parents used to parent their children. Now the police are called to handle everything from the kid wont go to school, won't come home, won't follow rules, etc... Pepe had issues long before the night he died. The officer was present for only a snapshot of his life. In that brief moment, she was attacked, and responding correctly for a POLICE OFFICER. As a few of the other posting commented, if Pepe fled the scene and hurt someone, the officer would be on the table for failure to act. Maybe Pepe needed more help or counseling before that night, I didn't know him so I can't say. What I can say from experience is that the officer performed her duty that night, and it was the only option.

>>>I am not condeming the officer, I am just saying that I think it is obvious something wrong happened.

Correct. "Pepe" produced a knife, slashed an area of vital body parts, and got shot. Pepe was that "something" which was wrong.

A page about a 17 year old dying is not the place to have political aurguments. He was kind soul and got wrapped up in the wrong things. Bad drug reaction is completely different than mental health issues and i personally find insulting that someone compared it to sandy hook. RIP pepe... only met you a few times but you were ome of the funniest kind people ive come across in this world

For all of the people who think this was bad police work I suggest you get a copy of the training video Surviving Edged Weapons, and watch it before commenting again.

You can see it on Youtube...

Sad for the kid...but you can't take a knife to a gun fight.

Again, stupid dumb comments. People have no idea what happened. The cop overreacted and should not have shot him. Sorry for all you people who are so happy he got killed. He didn't deserve to die. There are witness to what happenend and I hope that we can see better police work if this happenes again.

Pepe was well loved and cared about by many people. He is remembered by many, and missed by many. It is terriable the way you adults are so insensative to the situation. If you dont know him you will not have the same feelings, but you can still have compassion. As an adult I can process Teenage mistakes. Yes, he knew what he was doing to a certain extent, but I am sure that he did not think he was going to have a bad reaction. Its called a "bad trip". Lots of attics die and OD, you think they wanted to die? Do you think he woke up and said "I want to stab a cop today". He was so out of his mind on drugs he probably didn't even know it was a cop. Maybe he thought he was being attacked. I am ashamed, saddened and scared that the other so called adults in this area are so stupid and can't see this situation for what it is. I would have hoped people would have been sad that another kid lost his life regarding drugs, but thats not the case.

SO what you are saying Laura, it is the cops fault that he was trippin'??? Who gave him the LEGAL prescription??? Remeber that commercial this is your brain on drugs??It is not an officer's job to sit there and play social worker when someone is threatning thier life. Just say no to drugs... this is an excellent example.

Hey another thought. People always want you to feel sorry for all the wrong reasons. Nobody put a gun to this boy head and made him do drugs. Stop the whinning. Life is tough and bad things happen to the good the bad and the ugly. Let hime rest in peace, but if you think I'm going to blame the cop for somebody doing drugs, then you a barking up the wrong tree. Take responsibility for your actions people.