CHICAGO (Legal Newsline) - The City of Morris, Ill., and its police officers have been sued over the fatal shooting of a woman.
A lawsuit was filed Dec. 8 against the City of Morris and two of its police officers, Nicholas Pampinella and Casie Price, in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois.
The plaintiff is Nicholas Schwab, son and Independent Administrator of the Estate of Alivia Schwab, who was shot by Officer Pampinella. The suit alleges that on September 29, 2023, Alivia Schwab, who had a history of mental illness and was known to be suicidal, was shot three times by Officer Pampinella despite holding a knife in a non-threatening manner.
"When DEFENDANT PAMPINELLA shot and killed Alivia Schwab, she still had her cell phone up to her right ear and held a knife in the downward position, never raising it or threatening either DEFENDANT OFFICER in any way," the suit claims, adding the officers failed to use their tasers to subdue her.
Body cam footage of the shooting has been released.
The lawsuit claims violations of the Fourth and Fourteenth amendments to the United States Constitution and under Illinois state law. Jeffrey Neslund represents the plaintiff.