A 64-year-old Flossmoor woman was shot three times by police Sunday as she advanced toward officers with a knife, police said Thursday.
The woman, Madeline Miller, was pronounced dead at Advocate South Suburban Hospital in Hazel Crest, and state police are investigating the shooting, which occurred when Flossmoor police responded to a report of a domestic disturbance in the 1400 block of Joyce Drive.
Flossmoor police initially offered few details, saying that commenting on the case would compromise the independent state police investigation.
But they released body camera video Thursday and a statement saying officers responded shortly after noon Sunday to a domestic disturbance, with a report that an individual, later identified as Miller, was believed to be armed and dangerous and was threatening and attacking a female family member with a knife.
Police heard “arguing and commotion” inside the residence, and after announcing their presence, a woman using a walker opened the door for officers, police said.
A female family member began yelling “she’s trying to kill me,” and she and the woman in the walker moved out of the way for officers, police said.
Miller emerged from around a corner, holding a large kitchen knife, and “quickly ran at the officers with the knife pointed in their direction,” police said.
Officers retreated back onto a driveway and ordered Miller to drop the knife, which she refused to do and continued “to advance toward the officers at a quick pace,” according to the statement.
One officer fired a single shot, hitting Miller in the arm, and when she continued to advance toward that officer, with the knife raised, the second officer fired two shots, hitting the woman in the torso, police said.
The officers rendered medical help and called for paramedics. A female family member who was injured in the domestic disturbance was taken to an area hospital, police said.
The events were captured on the officers’ body-worn cameras as well as their squad car dashboard cameras, police said. An interior security camera recorded the earlier domestic disturbance, police said.
The responding officers have been placed on administrative leave per departmental policy, police said.
Miller was pronounced dead shortly after 1 p.m. Sunday, and her death was ruled a homicide, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office. Family members have not returned messages this week regarding the shooting.
The Illinois State Police Public Integrity Task Force is conducting an independent investigation into the shooting.
Flossmoor police Chief Tod Kamleiter said Thursday the department was not providing any other information.
mnolan@tribpub.com
