The family of Mary Alice Love, the 37-year-old Black woman shot and killed by Mundelein police during a mental health call last month, called for the firing of the involved police officer and the release of the incident’s body cam footage — among other demands — during public comments at Monday’s board meeting.
Kevin O’Connor, who is representing the family, said initial police news releases describing Love as suicidal and threatening were “completely inaccurate,” instead arguing officers had responded to a non-emergency mental health call with ultimately fatal force.
“They smeared her name,” O’Connor said. “That’s just wrong, blatantly wrong. We’ve seen the video; it’s just not true.”
His firm and the family had been allowed to review body cam footage, O’Connor said, and planned to move forward with a legal case in the coming weeks if their list of nine demands were not met.
“What happened to Mary Alice Love on that date is not what’s reported in the media,” O’Connor said.
Demands include the termination of the officer who shot and killed Love, the suspension of two officers also involved in the incident, the release of body cam footage, an independent investigation by the Illinois State Police and United States Department of Justice, the retraction and correction of false statements, a public apology to Love’s family, the identification of all involved officers, and a community accountability meeting at the next board meeting later in June.
The Lake County Major Crime Task Force is investigating the fatal shooting. A previous release indicated video and audio evidence would be released “after key investigative steps and interviews are completed.” A previous release also said the officer involved has been placed on administrative leave.
According to a task force spokesperson, Dan Thomas, with the Illinois State Police, is commanding the investigation.
The spokesperson wasn’t able to give a timeline for the investigation as of Wednesday afternoon; however, once completed, they said it will be turned over to the Lake County State’s Attorney.
The Village of Mundelein sent a statement that said it was a “collective response” from the village, including the police department.
“The village has received the Love family’s demands and continues to communicate with the family as we await the findings of the independent investigation,” the statement said.
According to O’Connor, they received a email from the village attorney Wednesday evening that they were reviewing the demands.
Dueling narratives
According to a task force news release shortly after the shooting, at 5:57 p.m. on May 11, department officers responded to a home in the 1100 block of Ashbrook Drive in Mundelein for a report of a suicidal woman, as the release described her. It alleged a relative had said Love “had stated she wanted the police to kill her.”
O’Connor called that statement inaccurate. He said when Love was told the police might be called, she had expressed concerns that they would kill her.
According to the release’s version of the shooting, the officers were gathering information from the caller inside the house when Love, who was outside, “suddenly stood up and approached the rear sliding door armed with two large knives.”
She was “yelling” as she “aggressively opened the sliding door and began to enter,” when the officer inside the house “discharged their firearm, striking the female.”
Love was transported to an area hospital, where she was later pronounced deceased. The involved officer was also transported to an area hospital for evaluation, according to the release.
But O’Connor said the family had actually called a crisis call center initially and had been directed to call the non-emergency police number. According to O’Connor, a mental health professional was allegedly dispatched from Waukegan but would not arrive until after Love’s death.
Police arrived shortly after the family’s call, and O’Connor said Love was on the patio “cutting something on the table.” O’Connor accused officers of entering the home, allegedly grabbing Love’s elderly mother and knocking her to the ground.
O’Connor alleges that Love stood up and walked toward the officer, “not pointing the knife … it was just in her hand,” asking the officer what he was doing when he opened fire through the doorway.
He put the incident within a broader issue of mental health crises turning fatal when police are involved. Training was ‘clearly deficient,” O’Connor said, and if the police had waited for the mental health professional, there would have been no shooting.
“This was a non-emergency call,” O’Connor said. “None of it makes any sense.”
During Monday’s village board meeting, several of Love’s relatives gave comments. Betrand Love-Wakaba described Love as “a daughter, a family member, a friend, a source of love, such enormous laughter and strength,” Love-Wakaba said. “She mattered dearly to us.”
“No one should have to experience this, especially when you believe that your loved one was deserving of care, compassion, dignity and professional support,” Love-Wakaba said.
Johnny Love, who said he was Love’s father, said that “when the police arrived, tragedy ensued.”
Planned protest
The family had additional concerns with what followed after the shooting, O’Connor said. Love’s mother was transported by ambulance to an area hospital; however, Love-Wakaba was reportedly not allowed to ride with her.
And when the family went to the hospital to see the mother, the hospital was “locked down,” O’Connor alleged.
O’Connor said they wanted to give the village 10 days to respond to the demands. If not, he said they planned to hold a protest on June 18, starting at the village hall and ending at the police station.
When asked about the delay in taking legal action, O’Connor said he wanted “to give the town the opportunity to do the right thing.”
“If they fail to do that, then we move forward with the next action,” O’Connor said. “I hope to get that cooperation.”
O’Connor also said he was distrustful of the MCTF’s investigation.
“They are notorious for not finding anything wrong,” O’Connor said. “They’re a consolidation of officers from the surrounding communities, and they’re all friends.”
