Shooting Victim In Lockport Sues Hate Crime Defendant, His Estranged Wife
LOCKPORT — In one of the final civil lawsuits filed in 2024 at the Will County Courthouse, Lockport Township shooting victim Melissa Robertson is suing hate crime and attempted murder defendant John Shadbar and Shadbar’s estranged wife, Wendy Shadbar, in connection with May’s shooting that nearly took Robertson’s life.
Now 71 years old, John Shadbar has remained in the Will County Jail since his May 8 arrest by the Will County Sheriff’s Office. Will County Judge Donald DeWilkins, utilizing the SAFE-T-Act, ruled in favor of the Will County State’s Attorney’s Office petition to keep John Shadbar incarcerated. His next pretrial hearing is set for Jan. 17.
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As for Robertson, the shooting victim has retained the Chicago law firm of Costello, McMahon, Gilbreth and Murphy to sue the Shadbars.
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According to the new lawsuit, on May 7, John Shadbar and his wife Wendy resided in the 16000 block of West 144th Place in Lockport, and Wendy Shadbar was employed at the Cook County Sheriff’s Office. The suit claims both John Shadbar and Wendy Shadbar stored multiple guns inside their home, even though John Shadbar was a convicted felon and forbidden from possessing guns, according to the plaintiffs.
The lawsuit noted that John Shadbar suffered from cataracts that impaired his vision and “that Wendy Shadbar knew or should have known that defendant John Shadbar suffered from cataracts that impaired his vision.”
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On May 7, Wendy Shadbar provided her husband with alcohol “to consume at their home,” the plaintiffs outlined. “Defendant Wendy Shadbar knew or should have known of defendant John Shadbar’s propensity for incompetent, inexperienced or reckless behavior, including the incompetent, inexperienced or reckless use of firearms and ammunition.”
Robertson’s lawsuit points out that John Shadbar, on multiple occasions, discharged guns and otherwise brandished his guns outside his Lockport Township home “including in the general direction of plaintiff Melissa Robertson’s home.”
The suit outlines that Wendy Shadbar, on May 7, gave her husband “express or implied permission to use or possess firearms and ammunition” … and at approximately 5 p.m., “John Shadbar pointed one of defendants’ firearms in the general direction of … Melissa Robertson … Defendant John Shadbar believed that the firearm that he was pointing … was loaded with blank ammunition.”
On May 9, Judge DeWilkins heard evidence from Will County prosecutor Tricia McKenna revealing that John Shadbar frequently called the 45-year-old Robertson a “(racial slur) lover.” Shadbar shot the woman in the stomach with a rifle, according to the testimony.
Multiple neighbors told Will County Sheriff’s police that Shadbar is a known racist, and they know him as “Pistol Pete,” the judge was told.
According to Robertson’s civil lawsuit, the gun John Shadbar held discharged, and multiple bullets struck Robertson, causing her to suffer severe physical and emotional injuries, pain and suffering, as well as medical expenses.
The shooting left the 45-year-old woman hospitalized with damage to her colon, spleen and ribs, McKenna revealed in May. The victim was shot in her backyard, and then she crawled on all fours, into her kitchen, moaning that she was shot, according to McKenna. A woman in her 40s who also lives at the victim’s house called 911.
The lawsuit accuses John and Wendy Shadbar of negligence, negligent entrustment, battery and assault. Robertson’s lead lawyer, Richard J. Murphy, has asked for a Will County jury trial, seeking a judgment against the Shadbars in excess of $50,000.
Once her husband was in the Will County Jail on charges of attempted murder and committing a hate crime, Wendy Shadbar filed for a divorce against him. Her divorce filing remains pending at the Will County Courthouse.
Previous Patch coverage of the case:
Gunshots, Racial Slurs Came Before Lockport Township Hate Crime Shooting: Prosecutor
Attempted Murder Charges Filed Against Man, 70, In ‘Racially Motivated’ Shooting
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