Ill. Man Shot In Station Wanted Suicide by Cop

A suicidal man forced a Vernon Hills (Ill.) Police officer to shoot him Wednesday morning in the station after pointing a replica gun at the officer.

Following the shooting, officers found a note in the pocket of 53-year-old Howard Lazarus that read, "I apologize for placing your officers in this position. "I am dying from cancer and couldn't do the deed myself."

Lazarus walked into the station shortly after midnight and said he had been involved in an accident and wanted to file a report. He then pulled out a replica 9mm, pulled back the slide, and walked toward the officer. He refused several commands to drop the gun, reports WGN .

Lazarus was wounded in the shooting and has been charged with aggravated assault, reports the Chicago Tribune .