Mom Spots Coyotes, Husband and Son Open Fire, Shoot Up Neighbors’ Place By Mistake: Cops

WILMINGTON, IL — Two men trying to save the family’s dogs from coyotes inadvertently shot up a neighboring home.

At least two Vista Drive residents were asleep in their bedroom when they woke to bullets tearing through the place about 3 a.m. Saturday.

One round came through a master bedroom window and ricocheted into another room, police said. Another bullet penetrated a wall and was stopped by a wooden dresser.

“Had it not been for that dresser, it would have likely struck one of the homeowners as they lay in bed,” police said.

“Sgt. Don Thomas and Officers Dave Soucie, Matt Kiebles and Richard Santana responded and found that not only had two bullets entered the master bedroom, but two others had struck the home as well,” according to a statement released by the Wilmington police.

The residents heard as many as 10 shots fired, police said, including those that hit their house and others “whizzing through the trees.”

During the investigation, Wilmington police Detective Karl Jurgens spoke with neighbors who told him of hearing shots but had little else of interest to offer. And then one Vista Drive resident reportedly shed some light on how the house down the road ended up getting riddled with bullets.

The woman told Jurgens of coyotes jumping over her fence and trying to get at her dogs early Saturday morning, police said, and then “stated that she had summoned her husband and son, who both came out with semi-automatic handguns and began shooting at the coyotes.”

Jurgens proceeded to speak with the woman’s husband, 53-year-old Thomas Beck, and her son, Dylan Nolan, 18.

Both Beck and Nolan were “fully cooperative and confirmed the story,” police said, and explained that “they had no intent to shoot the home.”

“Beck stated that he had shot two rounds at the coyotes,” police said, “and Nolan recalled shooting approximately six times.”

Beck reportedly surrendered both pistols to the police.

Beck and Nolan were both charged with the reckless discharge of a firearm. They were booked into the Will County jail and remained in custody Saturday night.