State police fatally shoot armed man during domestic incident in Woodlawn

Illinois state police fatally shot an armed man during a domestic incident Wednesday night in Woodlawn on the South Side.

State troopers responded to a domestic battery call on Interstate 57 at around 10:50 p.m. and found the armed man in the 6500 block of South Champlain Avenue where “a struggle ensued in which shots were fired and the suspect was struck by gunfire,” state police said.

The man, Jalen Carpenter, 24, was taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center where he was pronounced dead, according to the Chicago Fire Department.

Jalen Carpenter’s father, Stanley Carpenter, 51, said the domestic incident was between his son and a woman his son had a relationship with over the course of a few months.

Stanley Carpenter said his son was a “beautiful soul” and a hard worker. The father also recalled conversations he had with Jalen Carpenter about how his son wanted “to get his life back together.”

Stanley Carpenter said Jalen Carpenter was hoping to get an apartment and save money for his son, who will turn 2 years old in July. 

“That baby has no clue he’ll never see his father again,” Stanley Carpenter said. “He was a real good father. Took care of his kid before he took care of himself.”

Stanley Carpenter said he would text Jalen Carpenter every night to make sure he was safe. He added that he thinks his son only carried a gun for protection.

“They murdered my son,” Stanley Carpenter said. “I’m void of everything. I’m questioning God.”

A gun was recovered from the scene.

The ISP Division of Internal Investigation Special Agents are investigating the shooting.

No officers were injured.