No Charges Against Officer In Fatal Shooting Of Woman: Prosecutors

MUNDELEIN, IL — A Mundelein police officer who fatally shot a woman during a mental health crisis earlier this year will not face criminal charges, the Lake County State's Attorney's Office announced Friday.

Lake County State's Attorney Eric Rinehart said prosecutors reviewed an extensive, independent investigation into the May 11, 2026, shooting death of Mary Alice Love before determining that criminal charges were not warranted. Rinehart and senior prosecutors met with Love's family Friday to personally deliver the findings of their review. The Mundelein Police Department was also notified of the decision.

"I want to express my most sincere condolences to the family, friends, and loved ones of Mary Alice Love," Rinehart said in a statement. "A family's call for help should never end in the death of someone. That is the heartbreak at the center of this case."

Rinehart emphasized that the decision not to prosecute the officer does not necessarily mean the shooting was unavoidable or that the police response could not have been handled differently.

"This decision answers one narrow question: can the state prove a crime beyond a reasonable doubt?" Rinehart said. "It does not mean that things could not have been done differently, or that Mary Alice Love's death was not preventable. But based on Illinois law and our ethical duties as prosecutors, we cannot prove a crime occurred."

The announcement concludes the State's Attorney's Office's criminal charging review of the officer's actions, though prosecutors' statement did not provide details about the evidence investigators gathered or the circumstances immediately preceding the shooting. Rinehart also pointed to the challenges law enforcement faces when responding to mental health emergencies and called for additional investment in treatment and crisis response services.

"This case highlights a tragic intersection of mental health crises and law enforcement responses," Rinehart said.

He added communities must prioritize mental health treatment and ensure officers respond appropriately to crises before resorting to force.

"Our office will continue to work with legislators, stakeholders, and our community for a better Lake County," Rinehart said.

The decision came the same day Love's father, Johnny Love, filed a federal lawsuit on behalf of her estate against the Village of Mundelein and police Sgt. Christopher Brigano, according to the Lake & McHenry County Scanner.

The lawsuit challenges the officer's use of deadly force during the May 11 encounter. Mundelein police officials said a separate administrative review will determine whether the officers' actions complied with department policies, procedures and training.

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