Attempted Murder Charges Filed Against Man, 70, In 'Racially Motivated' Shooting

LOCKPORT TOWNSHIP, IL — A Lockport Township man has been charged with attempted first-degree murder after shooting his neighbor on Tuesday, in a crime the Will County Sheriff's Office says was "racially motivated."

UPDATE: Gunshots, Racial Slurs Before Lockport Township Hate Crime Shooting: Prosecutor

John Shadbar, 70, is facing charges of attempted first-degree murder, aggravated battery with a firearm, and unlawful use of a weapon by a felon, and police say they are confident additional charges could be filed.

The sheriff's office said that deputies responded to 144th Place and Rickerman Road in unincorporated Lockport Township at 5:37 p.m. on Tuesday, for a shots fired complaint. While deputies were responding to the scene, they were told that a woman, age 45, had been shot by her neighbor.

Witnesses told 911 that Shadbar shot the victim outside and was walking around his property with a rifle, according to the sheriff's office. A reverse 911 call was placed to area residents to shelter in place after the shooting. Witnesses said Shadbar fired dozens of rounds of ammunition with an assault-style rifle at the victim from different outside locations, police said in a release.

Deputies arrived at the home, secured the area and began life-saving measures on the victim, who was taken to an area hospital in critical condition, the sheriff's office said. She suffered a gunshot wound to her chest, which exited her back, and a gunshot wound to her hand. The victim has since undergone surgery for her injuries and is recovering, police said.

After the shooting, police said Shadbar entered his home for a brief time, and barricaded himself inside. A crisis negotiator with the Will County Sheriff’s Office spoke to him over the phone and convinced him to exit his home with his hands up, the sheriff's office said.

While speaking to the crisis negotiator, officials said, Shadbar made several incriminating statements. The crisis negotiator was able to convince Shadbar to come out of his home peacefully, and he was taken into custody without incident, according to police.

Shadbar was taken to the Will County Sheriff’s Office Public Safety Complex for questioning, but police said he would not make any statements to detectives.

Detectives and crime scene investigators were able to obtain video evidence of the shooting from area residents' surveillance cameras, police said. Personnel from the Will County Sheriff’s Office were still present in the area Tuesday awaiting the execution of a search warrant for Shadbar’s home to recover the rifle used in this shooting and additional evidence related to the incident.

"Detectives are confident that additional charges will be filed regarding this case, as this incident appears to be racially motivated," the sheriff's office said in a release.

Shadbar was taken to the Will County Adult Detention Facility, and was awaiting a Wednesday afternoon court appearance.

"The personnel that responded to this scene are heroes. They put themselves in harms way, knowing that there was an armed individual in the area with the ability to shoot at them from a long distance," Sheriff Mike Kelley said in a release. "Deputies from the Will County Sheriff’s Office, officers from the Lockport Police Department, and Lockport Township Fire personnel collaborated and worked together to ensure that the victim could be stabilized and transported out of harms way. This is a prime example on how teamwork and training are important aspect of this job. Responding personnel contained the situation, helped to evacuate the injured, and took the offender in custody without any further injury or incident. This was a job well done."