An Illinois man, John P. Shadbar, was arrested and charged with a hate crime after allegedly shooting his neighbor, Melissa Robertson, multiple times in a racially motivated incident. The incident occurred in Lockport Township when deputies were called to reports of shots fired and found the victim had been shot by her neighbor. Witnesses identified Shadbar as the shooter, stating that he had fired multiple rounds at the woman from different locations outside his property. Video footage captured the shooting, leading authorities to believe it was racially motivated. Shadbar is facing nine felony charges, including attempted first-degree murder, aggravated battery, possession of a firearm, and a hate crime.
Deputies provided life-saving measures to Robertson, who was shot in the chest and hand, before she was taken to the hospital in critical condition for surgery. Robertson’s family reported that they have been harassed by Shadbar for the past 10 years since they moved in. The family, consisting of white Robertson and her Black sons, stated that Shadbar had used racial slurs against them in the past and had even brandished a gun in front of them on one occasion. During the recent incident, Shadbar allegedly yelled racial slurs and attempted to enter the family’s backyard, with Robertson’s 8-year-old son witnessing the shooting.
Following the shooting, Shadbar barricaded himself in his residence but was convinced to surrender by a crisis negotiator. Deputies reported that Shadbar made incriminating statements during the negotiation. 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. Additional charges are likely to follow, according to the sheriff’s office. The Robertson family claimed that they had contacted authorities about Shadbar’s harassment in the past, but no action had been taken.
Shadbar appeared in court and was denied pretrial release. The family expressed their distress over the incident, stating that the violence had not only affected their lives but also those of their neighbors and Shadbar’s own family. The victim, Melissa Robertson, is currently recovering from her injuries. The sheriff’s office is conducting an investigation into the incident, which has highlighted the ongoing issue of racial discrimination and hate crimes. The case has sparked conversations about the importance of addressing racial tensions and ensuring the safety and security of all individuals in the community.
