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Homeowner shoots man
Apparent burglary attempt stopped near Heyworth
By Kevin Simpson
Pantagraph staff
HEYWORTH -- A homeowner's shotgun blast wounded a Bloomington man and foiled what officials believe was a burglary attempt Friday afternoon in rural Heyworth.
The burglary suspect, Shad Hammond, 24, of Bloomington, was being treated Friday afternoon for a shotgun wound at BroMenn Regional Medical Center, Normal. Hospital officials declined to release information on his condition Friday night.
McLean County sheriff's police said his injuries were not life-threatening.
"What it boils down to is the intruder was shot by the homeowner," McLean County Sheriff Dave Owens said. "The intruder was taken to the hospital with a gunshot wound."
Authorities are investigating if Hammond is tied to a series of area burglaries, including an attempted burglary near Funks Grove that startled a teenage girl Friday morning. Hammond has a criminal record.
The rural Heyworth resident, Terry Hilton, was taken to the McLean County Sheriff's Department for questioning following the 1:30 p.m. shooting at the home on U.S. 136 three miles west of Heyworth, Sheriff Dave Owens said. Hilton was released without criminal charges.
Hilton's fiancee, Susan Kemper, said Hilton was too shaken by the incident to comment.
Hilton called 911 after shooting Hammond, who was found on the ground outside a rear door of the residence when police arrived, Owens said.
Criminal charges are pending against Hammond, Owens said.
Authorities reserved comment on whether the shooting was justified until the investigation is completed. A report will be forwarded to the state's attorney's office.
"There are a lot of questions to answer and a lot of work left to do," said Lt. Bonnie Serone of the sheriff's department.
Authorities declined to release additional information about the nature of Hammond's wounds or other details.
It is unclear whether Hammond was shot inside or outside the home. A van parked behind the residence was towed so it could be searched for potential evidence.
Hammond also is a suspect in a Friday morning burglary attempt near Funks Grove. The suspect in that case startled a teenage girl at the residence before fleeing around 10:40 a.m.
Sheriff's deputies searched the area for more than an hour without success.
Authorities also are checking if Hammond was involved to a string of rural burglaries in McLean, DeWitt and Tazewell counties.
Hammond was sentenced in 1996 to four years in state prison for burglarizing three Normal residences. He is currently out on $750 bond on a charge that says he tried to steal anhydrous ammonia -- a methamphetamine component -- near Hudson in the spring.
The Funks Grove-area home is about five miles northwest of where the shooting occurred.
Homes in that part of southwest McLean County are fairly isolated because of surrounding farm fields. A nearby neighbor wasn't aware of the shooting until notified by a Pantagraph reporter.
"That really makes me nervous," said Heidi Spaulding, 24. "I've always locked my doors and windows, but now I'll be checking them a lot more."
Contact Kevin Simpson at [email protected]
Apparent burglary attempt stopped near Heyworth
By Kevin Simpson
Pantagraph staff
HEYWORTH -- A homeowner's shotgun blast wounded a Bloomington man and foiled what officials believe was a burglary attempt Friday afternoon in rural Heyworth.
The burglary suspect, Shad Hammond, 24, of Bloomington, was being treated Friday afternoon for a shotgun wound at BroMenn Regional Medical Center, Normal. Hospital officials declined to release information on his condition Friday night.
McLean County sheriff's police said his injuries were not life-threatening.
"What it boils down to is the intruder was shot by the homeowner," McLean County Sheriff Dave Owens said. "The intruder was taken to the hospital with a gunshot wound."
Authorities are investigating if Hammond is tied to a series of area burglaries, including an attempted burglary near Funks Grove that startled a teenage girl Friday morning. Hammond has a criminal record.
The rural Heyworth resident, Terry Hilton, was taken to the McLean County Sheriff's Department for questioning following the 1:30 p.m. shooting at the home on U.S. 136 three miles west of Heyworth, Sheriff Dave Owens said. Hilton was released without criminal charges.
Hilton's fiancee, Susan Kemper, said Hilton was too shaken by the incident to comment.
Hilton called 911 after shooting Hammond, who was found on the ground outside a rear door of the residence when police arrived, Owens said.
Criminal charges are pending against Hammond, Owens said.
Authorities reserved comment on whether the shooting was justified until the investigation is completed. A report will be forwarded to the state's attorney's office.
"There are a lot of questions to answer and a lot of work left to do," said Lt. Bonnie Serone of the sheriff's department.
Authorities declined to release additional information about the nature of Hammond's wounds or other details.
It is unclear whether Hammond was shot inside or outside the home. A van parked behind the residence was towed so it could be searched for potential evidence.
Hammond also is a suspect in a Friday morning burglary attempt near Funks Grove. The suspect in that case startled a teenage girl at the residence before fleeing around 10:40 a.m.
Sheriff's deputies searched the area for more than an hour without success.
Authorities also are checking if Hammond was involved to a string of rural burglaries in McLean, DeWitt and Tazewell counties.
Hammond was sentenced in 1996 to four years in state prison for burglarizing three Normal residences. He is currently out on $750 bond on a charge that says he tried to steal anhydrous ammonia -- a methamphetamine component -- near Hudson in the spring.
The Funks Grove-area home is about five miles northwest of where the shooting occurred.
Homes in that part of southwest McLean County are fairly isolated because of surrounding farm fields. A nearby neighbor wasn't aware of the shooting until notified by a Pantagraph reporter.
"That really makes me nervous," said Heidi Spaulding, 24. "I've always locked my doors and windows, but now I'll be checking them a lot more."
Contact Kevin Simpson at [email protected]
