Lockport Township man formally indicted, pleads not guilty to shooting neighbor, hate crime charge

ByABC7 Chicago Digital Team WLS logo
Thursday, May 23, 2024
Suburban man pleads not guilty to shooting neighbor, hate crime charge
Lockport Township man John Shadbar was indicted and pled not guilty Thursday to shooting his neighbor Melissa Robertson in an alleged hate crime.

LOCKPORT TOWNSHIP, Ill. (WLS) -- A suburban man accused of shooting his neighbor was formally indicted Thursday.

John Shadbar, 70, has been charged with attempted murder and a hate crime. He has pled not guilty.

ABC7 Chicago is now streaming 24/7. Click here to watch

Shadbar is accused of shooting his neighbor, Melissa Robertson, earlier this month in Lockport Township.

During his first court hearing, prosecutors described what had been a years-long history of animosity between the neighbors, with Shadbar frequently using racial slurs toward Robertson's two children, who are Black. That includes on May 7, the day of the shooting.

Her family told ABC News this week that Robertson is now off a ventilator. She still faces a long road to recovery and will need multiple surgeries.

SEE MORE: 5 guns found inside hate crime suspect's wall after he allegedly shot Lockport Township neighbor

Shadbar remains in custody.

Copyright © 2024 WLS-TV. All Rights Reserved.