Illinois: 22-year-old shot during alleged break-in charged with burglary

Bloomington, Illinois

From the Pantagraph of October 2, 2008

22-year-old shot during alleged break-in charged with burglary

A 22-year-old Normal man who was shot during an alleged break-in at a Bloomington apartment was charged Wednesday with one count of residential burglary.

Joshua A. McGuire appeared in front of Associate Judge Rebecca Foley in a wheelchair on Wednesday afternoon on the residential burglary charge. He must post $1,500 to be released from the McLean County jail.

McGuire was shot three times in the legs after allegedly breaking into a lower-level unit in an apartment house in the 400 block of West Chestnut Street about 10 p.m. Monday, police said.

The shooting happened after a 51-year-old resident of an upstairs unit in the building heard loud noises, apparently someone kicking in a door to the downstairs apartment, said police spokesman Duane Moss.

Moss said the 51-year-old, carrying a .22 caliber rifle, told police he demanded McGuire lay down on the ground after he saw him exiting the lower-level unit into a building common area. Maguire reportedly refused and reached for his waistband, prompting the man holding the gun to fear he was in danger of being shot, Moss said.

Moss said McGuire was shot twice in the left knee and once in the right, but he allegedly fled the scene. He was treated at BroMenn Regional Medical Center, Normal, which called police.

The shooter told police he saw that someone had kicked in two doors, an entrance to the building itself and the door to the lower-level unit.

No one was home in the lower-level unit when police arrived. Moss said the shooter and the 22-year-old did not know each other prior to the shooting.

The shooter has not been charged in the case, Moss said.

McGuire, who denied in court Wednesday that he stole anything, is due back in court for an arraignment Oct. 10.