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Suburban man charged with shooting neighbor in possible hate crime
A Will County man was charged after he allegedly shot his neighbor outside his home in Unincorporated Lockport Township on Tuesday.
UNINCORPORATED LOCKPORT TOWNSHIP, Ill. - A Will County man was charged after he allegedly shot his neighbor outside his home in Unincorporated Lockport Township on Tuesday.
Will County Sheriff's deputies responded to a home near 144th Place and Rickerman Road at approximately 5:37 p.m. for reports of a shooting in the area.
Deputies found a 45-year-old woman — identified by family as Melissa Robertson — who had been shot one time in the chest. Witnesses told 911 dispatch that a 70-year-old man shot Robertson outside and was walking around his property with a rifle. Residents were advised to shelter in place.
The offender was later identified as John Shadbar. When deputies arrived, Shadbar went into his residence and barricaded himself inside. He eventually came out and surrendered after speaking with a crisis negotiator from the Will County Sheriff’s Office.
Shadbar was taken into custody for questioning. Robertson was transported to a local area hospital and has since undergone surgery for her injuries.
The victim's aunt spoke to FOX 32 and said her niece is in critical but stable condition as of Wednesday.
"When an 8-year-old is terrified to play in his backyard, it's it's pretty bad," said Jeanne Beyer about Shadbar. "He's been terrorizing her in the neighborhood for years…revving his motorcycle engine at all hours as loud as it can possibly go, blasting music, yelling, getting drunk and disorderly, shooting his gun into the air."
One of Robertson's friends was at the home and once she heard the shots, she rushed her child and another child into the house.
"She was standing right by the back door, so he's about seven feet away from her," said Emma Tasharski. "And he starts spouting off at the mouth, and she took a couple steps toward him, and I hear two more shots and that's when she goes down."
John Shadbar
Family and friends tell FOX 32 Shadbar has made comments in the past about the victim taking care of two African-American boys — one in his 20s and another just seven years old.
"They are both African-American and they were the target very often of his of his racial slurs and rants and raves," said Beyer.
Detectives recovered surveillance video from an area resident that captured the shooting. Shadbar was charged with attempted first-degree murder, aggravated battery with a firearm and unlawful use of a weapon by a felon.
The Will County Sheriff's Office said they believe the shooting was racially motivated and expect further charges.
Shadbar was transported to the Will County Adult Detention Facility to await his next court appearance.