
Editor’s Note: The address in this story was updated from 200 W. Lincoln Ave. to the 200 block of West Lincoln Avenue.
A 22-year-old Eastern Illinois University student died Saturday at the 200 block of West Lincoln Avenue, the Charleston Police Department and EIU President Jay Gatrell said.
CPD said Saturday that officers were dispatched to do a well-being check on who Gatrell identified in a schoolwide email as Yahacov Dennis, a junior computer science major.
According to the department’s news release, a “rapidly evolving event took place where a CPD officer was disarmed.”
Police said that Dennis came into possession of the officer’s firearm and fired it toward himself.
An Amoco gas station is located at the 200 block of West Lincoln Avenue..
Charleston Fire Department EMS services arrived and transported Dennis to an unidentified hospital where he was later pronounced dead, though the times were not specified.
No body cam footage has been released at this time, as the CPD is still investigating alongside the Illinois State Police Division of Criminal Investigations Zone 5.
In the statement, CPD requested that any inquiries be directed to DCI Zone 5.
Late Saturday night, a vigil was held in Lawson Hall on Eastern’s campus by those close to Dennis.
In Gatrell’s Sunday morning statement, he said EIU will not comment or share additional information while this is being investigated by the Illinois State Police.
The email linked resources such as EIU’s counseling clinic, the dean of students office, EIU’s anonymous mental health app Togetherall and the National Suicide Crisis hotline, which can be reached by calling or texting 988.
Luke Brewer can be reached at 581-2812 or at lsbrewer@eiu.edu.