Article Summary –
John P. Shadbar, an Illinois man, has been arrested and charged with a hate crime for allegedly shooting his neighbor, Melissa Robertson, multiple times in a racially motivated incident. The shooting, which was captured on video, occurred outside with Shadbar firing rounds from different locations on his property, and Robertson was critically injured and is currently recovering after surgery. Shadbar, who allegedly harassed Robertson and her family since they moved in 10 years ago, barricaded himself in his house after the shooting and was arrested following a crisis negotiation; he now faces multiple felony charges.
Illinois Man Charged with Hate Crime Following Alleged Racially Motivated Shooting
A man from Illinois was recently arrested and charged with a hate crime after reportedly shooting his neighbor in what appears to be a racially driven event.
Deputies responded to a call in Lockport Township around 5:37 p.m. on Tuesday following reports of shots fired. The victim was identified as a 45-year-old woman who had allegedly been shot by her neighbor, according to the Will County Sheriff’s Office.
John P. Shadbar was identified by witnesses as the shooter. They stated that he had “shot the victim outside and was patrolling his property with a rifle”. He is suspected of shooting dozens of rounds at the woman from multiple locations outside.
Area security cameras captured the shooting, leading the sheriff’s office to believe that it was racially motivated.
Upon arrival, deputies administered life-saving measures to the woman, who had been shot in the chest and hand. She was transported to the hospital in critical condition and has since undergone surgery. She is currently recovering, officials report.
The victim was identified by her family as Melissa Robertson, a white woman with Black sons. They told NBC Chicago that they had been harassed by Shadbar since moving next door a decade ago.
In past incidents, Shadbar allegedly yelled racial slurs, fired his gun in his yard, and threw fireworks between the houses. During the Tuesday shooting, he was reportedly trying to enter the family’s backyard while yelling racial slurs. Robertson’s young son witnessed the event.
Authorities report that following the shooting, Shadbar, 70, barricaded himself within his residence. A crisis negotiator convinced him to exit his home with his hands up.
While speaking with the crisis negotiator, Shadbar allegedly made “several incriminating statements”. He was taken to the Will County Adult Detention Facility and charged with attempted first-degree murder, aggravated battery with a firearm, unlawful use of a weapon by a felon and a hate crime. Further charges may follow, according to the sheriff’s office.
The family claims they previously reported Shadbar’s harassment to authorities multiple times, but no action was taken. “This did not need to happen at all. Not just our lives, but his life and his wife’s and our neighbors are all affected by it,” Robertson’s son told NBC Chicago.
Shadbar faced court on Thursday and was denied pretrial release.
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