Armed Wilmette Woman Takes Own Life After Standoff

WILMETTE, IL — A Wilmette woman fatally shot herself while barricaded inside a bathroom at her home Sunday night, police said. Fire and police personnel were dispatched to an apartment on the 600 block of 11th Street for a report of an agitated and intoxicated person suffering from mental illness at 10:43 p.m. after the woman's husband called 911. Her husband explained said she was having a severe episode and required immediate hospitalization, according to Wilmette Police Cmdr. Michael Robinson.

Linda Dreier, 67, who lived at the Wilmette apartment building where police were called, was identified as the barricaded woman, according to the Cook County Medical Examiner's Office.

When officers arrived they found her inside the bathroom armed with a revolver, which police said was legally owned by her husband.

Officers established a dialogue with her and were able to continue communicating with her for about 40 minutes, according to Robinson.

But Dreier became "disengaged from the conversation" and shot herself while inside the bathroom, according to a release.

Wilmette Fire Department paramedics who had been on standby during the standoff performed emergency medical care but were not able to revive her.

Dreier was pronounced dead at 12:25 a.m. on Monday morning, according to the medical examiner's office, which ruled her death a suicide caused by a gunshot wound to the chest.

Over 44,000 Americans die by suicide each year, and in Illinois, one person dies by suicide every six hours, according to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. Anyone who needs someone to speak with is encouraged to call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or text TALK to 74174 or visit www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org.