Man Sentenced To 20 Years After Lockport Heights Hate Crime Shooting

LOCKPORT, IL — A Will County man has been sentenced to 20 years in prison after he pleaded guilty Wednesday to the 2024 shooting of his neighbor, the Will County State's Attorney's Office said.

Shadbar, 72, who lives in the Lockport Heights subdivision, was charged in 2024 with attempted murder and a hate crime after the shooting of his neighbor in her backyard.

Shadbar shot his neighbor, Melissa Robertson, in the stomach and in the hand. She survived the shooting, but had serious injuries. Robertson's partner and children are Black.

Patch reported in May 2024 that Shadbar would frequently say racial slurs to his neighbor, would fire blank rounds toward his neighbor's home and threw fireworks into their yard in the past.

Shadbar was held in pre-trial detention since his arrest in May 2024.

The State's Attorney's Office said the Shadbar pleaded guilty to attempted first-degree murder and was sentenced to 20 years in IDOC and hate crime for three years in IDOC to run concurrently.