| By Big Radio New Staff |
The Rock County District Attorney’s Office says it has cleared Beloit police officer Cole Gille for fatally shooting a man authorities say stabbed a woman more than 40 times and refused to surrender to officers May 16.
An investigation by the state’s Division of Criminal Investigation and the D.A.’s office shows 54-year-old South Beloit resident Greg Tracy was intoxicated, covered in blood, and armed with knives in a house in the 2000 block of Frederick Street in Beloit May 16.
The investigation shows Tracy had stabbed a woman dozens of times in the torso and arms. He told police he would not allow the woman and two toddlers in the Frederick Street house to leave alive.
Police say they told Tracy to surrender, but he refused, and instead stood inside the house, near a screen door, waving a knife at police and asking them which officer wanted to get stabbed first.
The D.A. says police planned to use rubber bullets to subdue Tracy, but as they prepared to move in the house, Tracy raised a knife above his head and began to rush at police.
Gille then fired a gun loaded with real bullets, hitting Tracy three times. Tracy died at the scene, despite Gille’s efforts to give him life-saving resuscitation.
The D.A. says Gille acted appropriately based on Tracy’s actions. The woman Tracy stabbed was treated at a Madison hospital.
