Woman’s Fatal Shooting by Morris Police Officer Ruled Homicide in Grundy County

MORRIS, Ill. – Mental Health Crisis Ends in Tragedy

MORRIS, Ill. –
If you or a loved one is feeling distressed, please reach out to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. This crisis center offers free and confidential emotional support 24/7 to civilians and veterans. Call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 or text HOME to 741-741 (Crisis Text Line).

For more information about the warning signs and risk factors of suicide, visit https://afsp.org/risk-factors-and-warning-signs. If you need immediate emotional support, call 1-800-273-TALK for free and confidential assistance.

MORRIS, Ill. – The Grundy County Coroner’s Office has officially declared the death of Alvia A. Schwab, a 40-year-old woman who was fatally shot by a Morris police officer in September, as a homicide.

The tragic incident occurred on September 29 in the parking lot of Schwab’s apartment complex on Anne Lane. According to a statement from the medical examiner’s office, Schwab was shot and killed by a Morris Police Department officer during a mental health crisis.

An extensive investigation conducted by the Illinois State Police and the Grundy County Coroner’s Office revealed that Schwab was in the midst of a mental health emergency and was seeking help by contacting the crisis hotline when she exited her apartment at approximately 10:54 a.m.

As Schwab approached the police officers in the parking lot, she held a cell phone in one hand and a knife in the other. In response, one of the officers fired four gunshots, striking Schwab three times, as confirmed by the medical examiner’s office. Tragically, Schwab succumbed to her injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene.

Following a meticulous forensic autopsy and comprehensive toxicology tests, Grundy County Coroner John Callahan officially ruled Schwab’s death as a homicide on Wednesday.

No further details or information regarding the incident were immediately available. The case remains under investigation, and authorities will continue to gather evidence and conduct interviews to determine the circumstances surrounding the fatal shooting.

If you or someone you know is feeling distressed, please do not hesitate to contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. Their crisis center provides free and confidential emotional support 24/7 to individuals in need. Call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 or text HOME to 741-741 (Crisis Text Line).

For more information about the warning signs and risk factors of suicide, visit https://afsp.org/risk-factors-and-warning-signs. If you require immediate emotional support, call 1-800-273-TALK for free and confidential assistance.