Man shot dead by Illinois cops called 911 for help, family said. Now video is released
Officials have released a portion of the 911 audio and body camera footage of the fatal police shooting of Jack Murray — a 24-year-old Chicago-area man who approached police with a knife after calling authorities for help on Dec. 1.
Murray’s family said in a Dec. 4 news release that he had called police in the past when he was experiencing a physical or mental health crisis, and they believe that may have been what he was doing the night he was shot.
In the 911 audio released by Elk Grove Village officials on Dec. 18, Murray, with his speech slurred, told a dispatcher, “There’s somebody acting erratic with a knife and he seems dangerous.”
“He’s going to hurt someone,” Murray continued.
When the dispatcher asked if Murray was the man with the knife, he responded inaudibly.
Murray was inside the residence with his father when he made the call, according to the audio. After getting disconnected, the dispatcher called back and reached his father.
Murray’s father told police he had “no idea” what was going on, according to the audio.
“You need help? It’s OK, Jack, if you do,” Murray’s father can be heard saying while on the phone with the dispatcher.
“You’re not fine, Jack, something’s going on. You called them for a reason,” he continued.
The dispatcher then instructed everyone except for Murray to exit the residence before sending officers.
“This house has a history of (audio redacted) problems,” the dispatcher told officers. Police confirmed to the dispatcher that they were familiar with Murray.
Body camera footage
Body camera footage from responding officers shows Murray approaching them with a knife police measured at 11½ inches.
Police can be heard repeatedly telling Murray to drop the knife and put his hands up, the video shows.
“He’s going to get himself tased,” one officer said.
Video footage shows Murray continuing to approach officers even after they twice deployed Tasers.
“Unfortunately, these efforts were not effective in neutralizing the threat to the officer’s safety,” Elk Grove Village Mayor Craig Johnson said in a statement accompanying the audio and video footage.
Seconds later an officer can be seen firing several shots.
Officers immediately administered medical aid to Murray, according to the video.
Murray was pronounced dead at a local hospital.
The shooting is being investigated by the Major Case Assistance Team, Johnson said.
‘A heavy hand of spin’
Attorneys for Murray’s family responded to the audio and video footage in a Dec. 18 news release, calling it “self-motivated, pre-packaged video montage” with “a heavy hand of spin.”
“What was released is an edited movie meant to confuse viewers about the legality of what officers are required to do to de-escalate a situation like this with a clearly emotionally distressed person,” according to the release from Romanucci & Blandin law firm.
The legal team criticized the escalation to the use of lethal force, noting that officers were equipped with a bean bag rifle — a less lethal tool — but didn’t use it.
“He was well-known to the EGVPD as they admit on video. Rather than send medical aid or social services, EGV dispatched the full force of their Police Department and the outcome of Jack’s death was inevitable,” the attorneys said.
“This situation is beyond sad, and we vigorously maintain that Jack did not need to die that day,” attorneys said.
Murray’s lawyers have opened a civil investigation into the shooting.
Elk Grove Village is about 25 miles northwest of Chicago.
24-year-old shot by Illinois police was diabetic and called 911 for help, family says
Man killed fiancee and her daughters at 2 separate scenes, Illinois officials say
Teen found shot to death in trunk of burning car, Illinois police say. ‘Heartbroken’
