The coroner has released the identity of a woman who was fatally shot by police after she confronted officers while armed with two large knives in Mundelein Monday evening.
An autopsy performed Tuesday showed that Mary Alice Love, 37, of Mundelein, died as a result of multiple gunshot wounds, according to Lake County Coroner Jennifer Banek.
The Mundelein Police Department, Mundelein Fire Department and Countryside Fire Protection District responded around 5:57 p.m. Monday to a home in the 1100 block of Ashbrook Drive in Mundelein for a report of a suicidal female, later identified as Love.
“The caller, a relative on scene, reported the female was suicidal and had stated she wanted the police to kill her,” Lake County Major Crime Task Force Spokesperson Heather Cognac said.
Police arrived and learned Love had exited the house and was sitting on the back patio.
As officers were inside the home attempting to gather more information from the caller, Love “suddenly” stood up and approached the rear sliding door while armed with two large knives, Cognac said.
“The female started yelling and aggressively opened the sliding door and began to enter the residence,” Cognac said.
Cognac said an officer inside the home discharged their weapon and struck Love.
Officers immediately summoned firefighter/paramedics at 6:11 p.m., who were already staging nearby until the scene was deemed safe, according to fire department radio traffic.
Paramedics transported Love to an area hospital where she was pronounced dead, Cognac said.
Paramedics also transported the officer who discharged their firearm for evaluation.
A third ambulance was also requested to the scene, according to radio traffic, but it is unclear who that ambulance took to the hospital.
The Lake County Major Crime Task Force responded to the scene.
The Lake County Coroner’s Office responded to the hospital and took possession of Love for an autopsy.
Banek said further details on the extent of Love’s injuries were not going to be released due to the ongoing investigation.
Dozens of police officers and investigators from numerous agencies lined Ashbrook Drive and Midlothian Road, with crime scene tape surrounding both sides of the street.
Investigators were seen documenting the scene and even using a drone to take aerial photos.
Neighbors on Ashbrook Drive were also interviewed by task force investigators.
Karen Minorini, who lives approximately one block away, told a Lake & McHenry County Scanner reporter at the scene that she heard four gunshots while in her backyard.
“I can tell they were coming from north of me, so I believed they were probably on Ashbrook [Drive], I wasn’t sure,” Minorini said.
“I called 911 and told them I heard gunshots, and then I saw all the police activity after that.”
Minorini saw more emergency crews descending onto Ashbrook Drive immediately upon finishing the 911 call.
“It was a very active scene,” Minorini said.
Minorini said she did not hear or see anything notable before the four gunshots.
“I heard no other gunshots. I heard nobody saying any kind of commands like ‘stop,’ ‘put it down,’ anything like that,” she said.
Minorini added that her small and quiet neighborhood has not seen any activity like this before. She said a lot of the homes in the neighborhood are rented out.
Many residents were also surprised to see the slew of emergency crews in their neighborhood.
The Lake County Major Crime Task Force is conducting an independent investigation into the incident in accordance with protocol and Illinois law.