Family of man killed by Elk Grove Village police files wrongful-death lawsuit

Jack Murray routinely called Elk Grove Village police to help in times of emotional distress, yet when officers responded to a call in early December they “failed to follow their training” and fatally shot the 24-year-old steps from his family home, according to a new lawsuit.“The same people we expected to help, took the life of a beautiful human being,” Murray’s mother, Donna Murray, said at a news conference Thursday, fighting through tears. “Elk Grove Village police had assisted Jack in times of crises past. What went wrong? Who decided to fire and fire so many shots? This should have never happened.”After months of investigation, attorneys for the family announced Thursday they have filed a wrongful-death lawsuit against Elk Grove Village and five unnamed members of the Elk Grove Police Department. The suit seeks accountability for the “numerous negligent decisions that both violated the policies and norms of reasonable policing and common sense,” attorney Antonio Romanucci said.Attorney Antonio Romanucci, alongside attorney Javier Rodriguez Jr., explains the wrongful-death lawsuit filed over the fatal police shooting of Jack Murray in Elk Grove Village.“Despite their resources, their knowledge and supposed preparation, these officers failed to follow their training and did not utilize any de-escalation tactics, and did not provide Jack with time, physical space, and ultimately the desperate assistance that he had called the police for,” Romanucci said Thursday. “A call to the police for help should never, ever be a death sentence.”Elk Grove Village Mayor Craig Johnson’s office confirmed that it was aware of the lawsuit and would review the complaint “to determine how best to move forward.”“The officers who responded to this incident all have received a combination of crisis intervention training, mental health training and de-escalation training, all of which were utilized in response to the incident involving Mr. Murray,” the mayor wrote in a statement. “The village looks forward to defending the actions of its officers during the very unfortunate and tragic incident involving Mr. Murray.”Murray was a Type 1 diabetic , according to his family. Murray had also struggled with mental health issues since the age of 14, which when combined with the physical challenges of diabetes could “create a very big storm,” according to his mother.Murray routinely called Elk Grove Village police when he thought his health or wellness might be in danger and because of this officers “all knew Jack” and the family, his mother said.On the afternoon of Dec. 1, 2023, it is the “understanding of the family,” that Murray again called the police. Tom Murray puts a hand on a photo of his son Jack Murray as he walks out after a news conference regarding the fatal police shooting of Jack Murray in Elk Grove at the officers of law firm Romanucci & Blandin on Thursday.Elk Grove Village released audio and video footage weeks after the shooting. Family attorneys allege In audio released by the village, Murray calls 911 and tells dispatchers someone is “acting erratic with a knife and seems dangerous.” He quickly becomes confused, and when asked who this person is responds “Mmm … Mmm. Not too sure,” then states the person’s name is Jack Murray. He identifies himself as Jack Murray and when asked if he has a knife ends the call.The dispatcher calls back and Murray’s father answers, confused, saying they are all in the house together and no one has a knife. Murray’s father can be heard asking him “Jack, do you need help?” and tells him “It’s OK, Jack if you do. … Talk to me, Jack. Talk to me.”Dispatchers tell Murray’s father that police are outside and to leave his son alone in the home. He responds, “He’s not violent right now.”Shannon Murray (left) and Tom Murray hold onto one another during a news conference about the fatal police shooting of Jack Murray by Elk Grove Village police.At some point in the call, Murray steps outside and his father tells dispatchers he’s going with him.In body-worn camera video, released by the village, officers make repeated commands for Murray to put his hands up as he walks down the street in the direction of the police. Officers appear to Tase him, then seconds later open fire.It all happened in less than two minutes. Officers opened fire, striking Murray five times, “in plain view” of both of his parents, according to the family’s attorneys.Romanucci said they are not “running away from the fact that Jack may have had a knife in his hand,” but say they still have not been provided any evidence.Regardless of whether he had a knife, Romanucci said, “there was no fear in that household.” Murray was both mentally and physically impaired at the time, he said.The police “had full body shields, they had tactical gear, they had Tasers, they had pepper spray, they had batons if necessary ... they even had the beanbag rifle,” Romanucci said. “They had all of the de-escalation and nonlethal weapons that they could have had. What’s the first thing that happened? Shoot.”The civil complaint demands a jury trial to determine a dollar amount for compensatory and punitive damages.Attorneys say they still do not know the full identities and employment status of the officers involved and hope for more information to come forward in discovery. Jack Murray’s family, Ryan (from left), Donna, Shannon and Tom, listen to their attorneys speak about the lawsuit against Elk Grove Village police.