More Details Released In Route 41 Officer-Involved Shooting

Authorities released more details late Wednesday night into an officer-involved shooting that left one dead. The woman who was fatally shot was walking on Route 41 just north of Grand Avenue early Wednesday afternoon, armed with a long-barrel firearm, which she was waiving while standing in the roadway, when officers opened fire, Sgt. Christopher Covelli, spokesman for the Lake County Major Crimes Task Force, said. Two Gurnee police officers involved in the shooting have been placed on administrative leave pending an investigation, authorities said late Wednesday.

Meanwhile, the identity of the woman, who was taken to Condell Medical Center where she was pronounced dead, was not being released. An autopsy is scheduled for Thursday, authorities said.

Authorities first made contact with the woman at about 1:20 p.m. on Wednesday after responding to the area of Harper Avenue and Gould Street for a report of a suspicious vehicle, according to the news release. The caller described the vehicle as a white Toyota Prius with a bullet hole in the side of the car.

When officers arrived, they made contact with two adults inside the vehicle: a man and woman. The man was unconscious and unresponsive, Covelli said. Paramedics were called to the scene and when they arrived, the woman fled in the vehicle with the unconscious male still inside. She struck a firetruck while fleeing, police said.

The female driver crashed in Chittenden Park a short time later, authorities said. Gurnee officers arrived shortly after and found she had fled the vehicle on foot. Paramedics responded to help the unconscious man, who was transported to a hospital and later released.

Authorities then established a perimeter around the vicinity of the car crash, Covelli said.

A short time later, Gurnee officers located the woman in the southbound lanes of Route 41 just north of Grand Avenue. Police said she was armed with the long-barrel firearm, which she was waiving, as she was standing in the roadway.

"The Gurnee officers engaged with the woman and she was subsequently shot," Covelli said. The officer administered first aid until paramedics arrived. The woman was taken to Advocate Condell Medical Center where she was pronounced dead.

Two officers involved in the incident were transported to a local hospital for an evaluation and have since been released.

The investigation into the incident is being conducted by the Lake County Major Crime Task Force, which is protocol for officer-involved shootings.

The incident forced authorities to close Route 41 between Washington Street and Delany Road Wednesday afternoon. As of 7:06 p.m., the roadway had reopened, according to Lake County PASSAGE.

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