The family of 37-year-old Mary Alice Love, who was shot and killed by Mundelein police on May 11, is demanding immediate termination and suspensions, the release of body-camera footage, and a public meeting with village leaders.
The family of Mary Alice Love, the 37-year-old Mundelein woman shot and killed by police during a mental health call on May 11, 2026, is publicly demanding the immediate firing of the officer who fired the fatal shots, suspensions for two other officers, and the release of all body-camera footage tied to the incident.
The family's attorney, Kevin W. O'Connor of the Chicago-based O'Connor Law Firm, announced the demands on June 11 and said the officers' account of the shooting is contradicted by body-worn camera video the family has now reviewed.
What the family is asking for
According to a statement and protest flyer released by the family, they want:
- Immediate termination of the sergeant who shot Love
- Suspension of a female officer accused of blocking a family member from reaching paramedics
- Suspension of a supervising officer who locked down Advocate Condell Medical Center after the shooting
- Public release of all body-worn camera footage, dispatch recordings, and evidence
- A retraction and public apology from the Village of Mundelein
- A public community meeting at the June 22 village board meeting
A protest and march is scheduled for Wednesday, June 18 at 5 p.m. at Mundelein Village Hall, 300 Plaza Circle.
The May 11 shooting
Mundelein Police were dispatched at approximately 5:57 p.m. on May 11 to the 1100 block of Ashbrook Drive for a report of a suicidal woman. According to the Lake County Major Crime Task Force, which is conducting the independent investigation, the caller said Love was armed and wanted officers to kill her.
The task force's account, delivered through spokesperson Heather Cognac, says Love sat on the rear patio holding two large knives while officers spoke with the caller inside. Love then "suddenly" stood, walked to the rear sliding door, and "aggressively" opened it — at which point an officer fired through the door, striking her four times.
Love was taken to Advocate Condell Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead. The Lake County Coroner's Office confirmed her cause of death as multiple gunshot wounds.
The family's account
The family disputes that Love ever threatened officers with the knives. In their version of events:
- Love's mother called a non-emergency line seeking mental health assistance, not police intervention
- Officers arrived before any mental health professional
- As Love's mother approached the sliding glass door to let her daughter know police were outside, an officer pulled her backward and knocked her down
- Love walked to the door to ask why officers were grabbing her mother — and was shot through the glass
"The family and the police body worn camera strongly dispute public statements suggesting that Ms. Love threatened officers with two knives." — Attorney Kevin W. O'Connor
A neighbor, Karen Minorini, told reporters she heard four gunshots in quick succession and no verbal commands from officers beforehand.
The village's response
Mundelein Police Chief Jason Seeley acknowledged the public anger in a brief statement but did not address the family's specific allegations.
"Our thoughts remain with the family of the deceased, the involved officer, and everyone affected." — Chief Jason Seeley
The officer who fired the shots has been placed on administrative leave pending the task force's investigation. Village officials say body-camera and dispatch recordings will be released once "key investigative steps" are complete — a timeline the family argues is far too slow.
Why it matters
The case has reignited a long-running debate over how local police respond to mental health crises. The original call was for help with a person in distress, and the family says a clinician — not armed officers — should have been the first to arrive. How the village handles the body-camera release, the investigation, and the June 22 board meeting will likely shape public trust in the department for months to come.
If you or someone you know is in crisis
Free, 24/7 confidential support is available by calling or texting 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. Lake County residents can also reach the Lake County Crisis Care Program at 847-377-8088.