Illinois Man Arrested and Charged with Attempted Murder in Racially Motivated Shooting

Lockport Township, IL - John P. Shadbar, a 70-year-old resident of Lockport Township, Illinois, was arrested on Wednesday and charged with attempted first-degree murder in connection with a shooting incident that is believed to be racially motivated, according to the Will County Sheriff's Office (WCSO). The victim, identified as a 45-year-old female, remains hospitalized in critical condition.

On Tuesday at 5:37 PM local time, sheriff's deputies responded to reports of shots fired in the area of 144th Place and Rickerman Road in Unincorporated Lockport Township. Witnesses informed 911 that Shadbar had shot the victim outside and was seen walking around his property with a rifle. As a precautionary measure, a reverse 911 call was made to advise nearby residents to shelter in place.

Eyewitnesses stated that Shadbar, armed with an assault-style rifle, fired numerous rounds at the victim from various locations around his property. After the shooting, the suspect briefly barricaded himself inside his residence. However, a crisis negotiator was able to convince Shadbar to surrender peacefully with his hands up. During the negotiation process, Shadbar made several remarks that potentially incriminated him, according to the WCSO.

The victim, whose identity has not been released, suffered gunshot wounds, including one to her chest that exited through her back and another to her hand. Authorities provided immediate assistance to the victim before she was transported to a local hospital, where she underwent surgery for her injuries. She remains in critical condition.

Law enforcement officials have obtained video evidence of the shooting and are working to secure a search warrant to gather additional evidence from Shadbar's residence. Detectives are confident that further charges will be filed as the investigation progresses, given the apparent racial motivation behind the incident.

Will County Sheriff Mike Kelley commended the bravery and coordination of the responding officers and emergency personnel from the sheriff's office, Lockport Police Department, and Lockport Township Fire Protection. Kelley acknowledged that their collective efforts allowed for the stabilization and safe evacuation of the victim. He emphasized the importance of teamwork and training in managing such critical situations.

ABC News has reached out to the WCSO for further information, including whether surveillance video evidence will be made public. However, no comments or additional details have been provided as of this moment.

Shadbar is currently being held at the Will County Adult Detention Facility and is scheduled to appear in court for a hearing on Thursday afternoon. It remains unclear if he has obtained legal representation thus far.

As the investigation continues, authorities are working diligently to shed light on the circumstances surrounding this disturbing incident and ensure justice for the victim.