Lockport Township man charged with shooting neighbor, police believe crime was racially motivated

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A Lockport Township man has been charged after the Will County Sheriff's Office said he shot his neighbor Tuesday in an incident they believe may have been racially motivated.

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Will County deputies responded to the area of 144th Place and Rickerman Road at about 5:37 p.m., where they were told a 45-year-old woman was shot by her neighbor.

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Witnesses told police that a 70-year-old man fired dozens of shots from an assault-style rifle at her, the sheriff's office said.

The victim was transported to the hospital in critical condition after being shot in the chest and hand, the sheriff's office said. She has since undergone two surgeries and is recovering in critical condition.

Harley Bishop, who lives next to the suspect, said he was working behind his garage when it happened.

"All of a sudden I heard a very loud shot and then it was bang, bang, bang, bang, BANG," he said. "It was just like rapid fire, 15-16 right in a row and I just froze."

The sheriff's office said the suspect, John Shadbar, was barricaded inside of his home with a rifle until a crisis negotiator spoke with him and got him to leave the home with his hands up, the sheriff's office said.

"I heard the bull horn they were telling, 'John come out. Put the rifle down. Put your hands up and follow our instructions,'" Bishop said.

Shadbar was taken into custody, and was charged with attempted first-degree murder, aggravated battery with a firearm and unlawful use of a weapon.

The Will County Sheriff's Office said they believe the crime may have been racially motivated, as the suspect had made "racially insensitive statements" toward the victim's biracial children, including threatening their lives.

Neighbors said there had been growing tensions between the suspect and victim, and the sheriff's office said they had responded to the home multiple times in the past for ongoing disputes.

"I never thought it would go this far, never did," said neighbor David Dempsky. "There's very nice people in this area and it's normally quiet and for this type of thing to flare up too, it's sad."

Shadbar is expected in court Thursday. Investigators believe additional charges will be added as the investigation continues.