Phil Flores Shot, Killed Samantha Harer In Jealous Rage: New Lawsuit

JOLIET, IL — New York attorney Jennifer Bonjean has filed a wrongful death lawsuit at the Will County Courthouse against ex-Crest Hill Police Officer Phil Flores, accusing Flores of fatally shooting his girlfriend, Samantha Harer of Channahon, back in 2018.

The lawsuit plaintiffs are Kevin and Heather Harer, Samantha Harer's parents. Besides wrongful death, the Harers' lawsuit alleges battery and intentional infliction of emotional distress by Flores, who did not return to active duty on the Crest Hill Police Department in the aftermath of his girlfriend's deadly shooting.

"During the morning hours of February 13, 2018, Defendant Flores shot Samantha Harer in the head after a heated physical argument in her Channahon apartment bedroom," Wednesday's lawsuit filed by the Bonjean Law Group argues. "Defendant Flores staged the scene to make it appear as if Samantha had committed suicide.

"Channahon police personnel were eager to classify Samantha's death as a suicide once discovering that Defendant Flores was an off-duty Crest Hill police officer."

According to Bonjean Law Group, "After conducting a superficial investigation and ignoring critical forensic evidence, Channahon police officers and later Will County prosecutors concluded that Samantha's death was a suicide."

Harer's death was ruled a suicide, according to Bonjean, despite the fact:

Flores tested positive for gunshot residue on his right hand and right sleeve, while Samantha's hands and body were negative for gunshot residue.

Defendant Flores' sweatshirt was covered in blood spatter even though Flores denied that he was in the bedroom when he claimed Samantha shot herself.

Neighbors heard a physical struggle in the bedroom and a woman yelling "Let me go" immediately before the shooting.

Police officers observed damage to the wall that was not there a day earlier, precisely in the location where Samantha's body was found.

Defendant Flores' DNA was found on Samantha's gun, even though Flores claimed he never touched the firearm.

Wednesday's lawsuit is 11 pages in length.

According to the filing, Bonjean's investigation of the case was conducted through discovery during its pendency in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois "reveals that Defendant Flores shot and killed Samantha Harer in a jealous rage. Samantha did not take her own life — a fact her parents have always known.

"As executors of their daughter's estate, Samantha's parents, Heather and Kevin Harer, now bring this lawsuit against Defendant Flores for wrongful death, battery under the Illinois Survival Act, and intentional infliction of emotional distress."

Last November, Joliet Patch reported that U.S. District Judge Robert Gettleman of Chicago ruled the federal lawsuit against Flores, the ex-Crest Hill police officer, warrants dismissal.

A week after the federal lawsuit got dismissed, attorney Bonjean told Joliet Patch: "The case is stronger than it's ever been against Flores. Because of legal reasons, the plaintiffs cannot hold Channahon and Crest Hill responsible for Flores' conduct because he was an off-duty police officer. It was kicked out (of federal court) on jurisdiction, not on merits.

"His DNA is on her gun," Bonjean said last year. "There's no reason why his DNA should be on her gun. And let's not forget that she was in the nude. He's covered with gunshot residue, and she had no GSR. He claims he was not in her room, but he's the one with blood spatter, and why is his right hand covered in blood?"