Man Killed By Elk Grove Village PD Was Emotionally Disturbed: Lawyer

ELK GROVE VILLAGE, IL — The family of the 24-year-old man shot and killed by Elk Grove Police last week said that he experienced physical and emotional distress linked to Type 1 diabetes, which likely led him to call the police before he was shot, attorneys representing the family said on Monday.

Jack Murray was shot by police after investigators said he confronted police officers with a knife as he came out of a residence in the 200 block of Fern Drive on Friday. Police said officers were called to the home after someone from inside the residence called 911.

Police said Murray was shot by police after he maintained control of the knife while confronting officers.

Murray was taken to a local hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.

At a news conference on Mondays, attorneys representing the family said that they believe Murray called the police before the encounter that took place just a few doors down from the Murrays' home.

Attorney Antonio Romanucci said at the news conference that Murray had called the police in the past to seek help if he felt that his health or well-being were in danger in connection with his medical condition. The family said Murray was aware of the impact the disease has on his physical and mental health, which may have played a role in him calling the police on Friday.

“We believe the Elk Grove Village Police Department was familiar with Jack Murray and knew he occasionally called them for help when he was in physical or emotional distress. We believe that may have been what happened on Friday, Dec. 1,” Romanucci said at the news conference.

The law firm announced it has launched a civil investigation into the way officers treated Murray, who Romanucci described as an “emotionally distressed person” at the time of the incident and who was known by police. The family believes police officers should have done more to de-escalate the situation and get Murray the help he needed.

The family is calling for transparency by Elk Grove Police and the release of the 9-1-1 call, all body and dash cam footage from this event, and from all prior encounters with Murray.

"His family is deeply grieving and deserves answers on exactly what happened Friday afternoon,” the attorney said.

The five officers involved in the incident have been placed on administrative leave.