Woman Shot By Neighbor, 70, In Lockport Township: Sheriff's Office

LOCKPORT, IL — A 45-year-old woman was rushed to the hospital in critical condition after being shot in the chest Tuesday in unincorporated Lockport Township, the Will County Sheriff's Office said.

Deputies responded to the area of 144th Place and Rickerman Road around 5:37 p.m. for a report of shots fired and were told that the woman had been shot once by her neighbor, according to a news release.

Witnesses told 911 dispatchers that the 70-year-old neighbor shot the victim outside and was walking around the property, the release said. Deputy Chief Dan Jungles told Patch the shooter was armed with a rifle in his backyard.

A shelter in place was issued in the area after the shooting, police said. Residents were instructed not to answer their door unless it was to a police officer.

Deputies secured the area and began life-saving measures on the woman, who was taken to an area hospital in critical condition, with a gunshot to her chest that had exited through her back, according to police. Late Tuesday night, the sheriff's office said she had undergone surgery for her injuries.

Meanwhile, the 70-year-old neighbor entered his home for a brief time and barricaded himself inside, according to the release. A sheriff's office crisis negotiator spoke to the man and convicted him to come out of his house with his hands up. He was taken into custody without incident, according to police.

He was taken to the Will County Sheriff’s Office Public Safety Complex for questioning.

As of just after 10 p.m. Tuesday, there was still a police presence in the area as detectives and a crime scene investigator continued to investigate. Detectives were in the process of obtaining numerous search warrants related to the incident.