Man shot dead by Elk Grove police had called 9-1-1 seeking help, family believes
The family of an Elk Grove Village man fatally shot by police Friday believe he may have called law enforcement seeking help for emotional distress just before the deadly encounter, their attorney said Monday.
Lawyers representing the parents of Jack Murray said at a news conference that they are launching an investigation into the shooting, which police say occurred when the 24-year-old confronted officers outside his home with a knife.
Family attorney Antonio Romanucci said his clients believe the Elk Grove Village Police Department was familiar with Murray and knew he occasionally called them for help when he was dealing with physical or emotional distress.
"That Friday afternoon, on Dec. 1, Jack was in distress," Romanucci said during the news conference attended by Murray's parents and siblings. "He felt he was mentally and physically not right."
Romanucci said his law firm's investigation will focus on the officers' treatment of a known emotionally distressed person and their use of de-escalation tactics. He also called for "immediate transparency" from police, through the release of 9-1-1 call recordings and all relevant police body camera and dashboard camera footage.
"His family is deeply grieving and deserves answers on exactly what happened that Friday afternoon," Romanucci said. "We simply will not accept the police narrative or their version of the events that happened. We want truth and we want transparency."
Police have said officers responded to the 200 block of Fern Drive at about 4:30 p.m. Friday after a 9-1-1 calling regarding a man with a knife.
Murray was shot after he confronted officers with a knife in a nearby yard, according to the police account. He was taken by ambulance to Ascension Alexian Brothers Medical Center, where he later was pronounced dead, authorities said.
Romanucci said Monday that Murray's family was told at the hospital that he was "a crime scene" and as a result they were prevented from seeing him.
"For as long as I've been doing this, I have never encountered a family being denied (the ability) to say goodbye," he said.
In a statement Monday, Elk Grove Village and the police department offered condolences to the Murray family for what they described as "Friday's tragic incident."
An independent investigation into the deadly shooting is being conducted by the Major Case Assistance Team, officials said.
"The Elk Grove Village Police Department has already provided MCAT investigators footage of the body-worn cameras, and vehicle camera footage is available for their review," the statement reads. "Additionally, the Elk Grove Village Police Department has been conducting a parallel criminal investigation in order gain a complete understanding of the events that led to the incident."
As required by department police, five officers who responded Dec. 1 are on temporary administrative leave as the investigation continues, officials said. Not all were involved with the use of lethal force, according to the statement.
"We plan to share additional information about this incident publicly, including the audio from 9-1-1 dispatch, as well as the audio and video footage from the officers' body-worn and vehicle cameras," the statement adds. "We know that sharing this information in a transparent way will help our community better understand the events that unfolded last Friday afternoon. It is our goal to share this information as soon as we are can, after crucial investigative steps have been taken."
Murray's aunt, Liz Belcaster, said at Monday's news conference that the family still has many unanswered questions about what transpired Friday afternoon.
"Jack was only 24 years old. He was just starting his life. He was challenged by his health issues, being a Type I diabetic," she said. "It impacted him physically and was also a significant emotional challenge. There were times when he needed help quickly and believed police could help him, as they had in the past. We don't know what took place on Friday afternoon. But we know our family deserves answers."
Romanucci said there also needs to be more information about the knife, including its size and whether Murray pointed it at officers.
"Was there any attempt at de-escalation, other than saying 'drop the knife,' knowing that he had these mental and emotional issues?" Romanucci asked. "Was this a cry for help, as opposed to him being a dangerous person on the street who was potentially harmful to others? Did he really present a threat of bodily harm or injury or death to anybody at all, maybe even including himself? So, that's what we're looking for right now."