The Lake County Major Crime Task Force is investigating the Monday evening shooting on Ashbrook Drive.
MUNDELEIN, IL — A Mundelein police officer fatally shot a 37-year-old woman Monday evening after authorities said she entered a home armed with two large knives while officers were responding to a report that she was suicidal.
Mary Alice Love, of Mundelein, was taken to Advocate Condell Medical Center in Libertyville, where she was pronounced dead. The Lake County Major Crime Task Force is investigating the shooting, which happened after officers were called to a home in the 1100 block of Ashbrook Drive. The officer who fired has been placed on administrative leave while investigators review evidence, interview witnesses and examine what happened before and during the encounter.
Police, firefighters and paramedics were sent to the home about 5:57 p.m. Monday after a relative called authorities. Lake County Major Crime Task Force spokesperson Heather Cognac said the caller told police Love was suicidal and had said she wanted officers to kill her. When officers arrived, Love had left the house and was sitting on the back patio, authorities said. Officers went inside the home to speak with the relative and gather more information. Cognac said Love then stood up, moved toward the rear sliding door and had two large knives. “The female started yelling and aggressively opened the sliding door and began to enter the residence,” Cognac said.
An officer inside the home fired, striking Love, authorities said. Firefighter-paramedics, who had been staging nearby until the scene was considered safe, were summoned about 6:11 p.m. and took her to the hospital. Lake County Coroner Jennifer Banek said an autopsy performed Tuesday found Love died from multiple gunshot wounds. Banek said further details about Love’s injuries would not be released while the investigation remains active. One officer also was taken to a hospital for evaluation. Authorities have not released the officer’s name, the number of shots fired by police or whether any officer or relative was physically injured during the confrontation.
The shooting drew a large emergency response to the residential block, where crime scene tape was placed along both sides of Ashbrook Drive on Monday evening. Investigators remained at the scene as neighbors tried to understand what had happened in a normally quiet area. Karen Minorini, who lives nearby, said she heard four shots around 6 p.m. and knew they were close. “We have a gun range over here in Hainesville, and it crackles when they shoot at the range, but this was very close,” Minorini said. She described the sound as a quick series of pops. A loved one of Love told a Chicago television station the family was grieving and trying to understand the shooting.
Mundelein Police Chief Jason Seeley said Tuesday that the department is cooperating with the Lake County Major Crime Task Force and the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office. “Our thoughts remain with the family of the deceased, the involved officer, and everyone affected by this incident,” Seeley said. “We recognize the significant impact this event has had on all those involved and on the broader community.” Seeley said investigators are gathering evidence, conducting interviews and reviewing available information from before, during and after the shooting. The department said video and audio evidence is expected to be released after key investigative steps and interviews are completed.
The case now moves through the outside review process used for police shootings in Illinois. The Lake County Major Crime Task Force is handling the independent investigation, while prosecutors are expected to review the findings after investigators finish their work. No charging decision had been announced as of Wednesday. Officials also had not said when body-camera video, 911 audio, radio traffic or other recordings would be made public. The officer remains on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation, a standard step in many police shooting reviews.
The shooting also renewed attention on how police respond to calls involving people in mental health crises. Chuck Wexler, executive director of the Police Executive Research Forum, said crisis calls can turn dangerous quickly when weapons are involved and distance can affect the choices officers have. He said dispatchers and responding officers often try to gather details before contact is made, including whether a person has weapons, where the person is located and whether family members are nearby. Authorities have not said how much information officers had before they entered the home or whether any less-lethal options were used before the shooting.
As of Wednesday, investigators had identified Love, confirmed the cause of death and said the officer who fired remained off duty during the review. The next major public step is expected to be the release of investigative findings or video and audio records after interviews and evidence collection are complete.
Author note: Last updated May 13, 2026.