Crossbow Fired At Victim's Head On Langsford Lane: Joliet Police

JOLIET, IL — A 53-year-old man from the Plainfield area, Harold Cochran, remains in Will County's Jail after Joliet police say he clubbed someone inside his house with a wood beam and then grabbed his crossbow and fired a wooden arrow at his victim.

Joliet police booked Cochran into the Will County Jail on Friday afternoon, and he remained there on Monday now that a Will County judge has determined that Cochran meets the dangerous standard. Cochran must now remain locked up indefinitely as he awaits his trial on three criminal charges: aggravated battery, domestic battery and aggravated assault.

According to court documents, the Will County State's Attorney's Office of Jim Glasgow "pray that this honorable court deny the defendant pretrial release."

Assistant State's Attorney Tricia McKenna outlined that on Friday, the victim was home asleep when he heard Cochran and his mother arguing inside their house in the 6600 block of Langsford Lane.

The victim asked them to keep it down and that's when Cochran ran upstairs yelling, "You stupid mother******, I am going to beat your ass," court documents note. "The victim and defendant physically struggled with each other. The victim then disengaged and ran into the basement."

Cochran chased after him, grabbing a wooden beam and striking the victim in the face twice, McKenna informed the judge.

Joliet police found blood, marks on the victim's face and scratches on his forearms, plus scratches and marks on his upper right shoulder.

After being hit twice by the wooden beam, the victim retreated to his room and called 911.

Eventually, when the victim tried to emerge from his room, he heard his mother yell, "No, Bud," and that's when he looked downstairs and saw Cochran pointing a loaded crossbow at his head," McKenna stated. "He stepped back into his room as (Cochran) released the arrow. Officers observed a hole in the wall behind the victim that was about the head height of the victim, and an arrow was located in the closet of the room."

Prosecutors noted that the arrow completely penetrated the wall inside the house.

Afterward, the victim also told police that Cochran pointed a knife at him during the altercation prior to obtaining the bow and arrow. The victim's mother told police she tried to stop Cochran from firing his crossbow, but could not.

"He obtained it and pulled and pulled the trigger and shot ...." Assistant State's Attorney Tricia McKenna noted.

As for Cochran, his next court appearance will be Dec. 22 in Courtroom 405 of Judge Dave Carlson.