Shot fired at Illinois state senator's home, suspect in custody

SHOREWOOD, Ill. - A shooting damaged Illinois State Sen. Meg Loughran Cappel’s home in Shorewood, though police say the incident was not politically motivated.

What we know:

Around 4:50 a.m. Tuesday, Shorewood police said officers responded to the sound of gunfire near Ca-Crest Drive and Highland Drive. Officers searched the area but did not find any people or damage. Police received one phone call about the incident, but the caller could not provide any additional information.

At 6:50 a.m., police were called to the 500 block of Bethany Drive, where a home had been hit three times by gunfire. No one inside was injured.

As officers were investigating the scene, the police department received a call from a resident in the 500 block of Northgate Lane who said that before 5 a.m., someone in their house had heard a loud noise. Several hours later, the homeowners discovered damage caused by a single gunshot. Officers responded to the home and recovered evidence.

Police said evidence from both homes suggested the same firearm was used. They also noted the owners of both homes are not known to each other.

With the help of neighborhood surveillance video, investigators identified a vehicle and suspect, and the suspect was taken into custody Tuesday morning.

What they're saying:

Cappel, in a statement on Facebook, confirmed one of the homes shot was hers.

Meg Loughran Cappel | Facebook

"In the early hours of Tuesday morning, my family and I experienced a deeply troubling incident when a shot was fired directly at our home," Cappel said. "My family and I are safe and I’m thankful that no one was hurt… Violence is never the answer."

"Senator Loughran Cappel and her family are in my thoughts today as they deal with this violation of their safety and peace of mind. Thankfully, nobody was hurt, and Shorewood’s law enforcement acted swiftly to restore peace and safety to the community," Rep. Harry Benton, D-Plainfield, said. "With tensions on the rise, and expressions of hatred and violence becoming sadly common, it’s important for all of us to focus on respect, civility and the human dignity we all share. Violence like this is never justified, and always counterproductive. It’s up to all of us to stand together and work out our problems peacefully. That’s the American way."

Big picture view:

The shooting comes nearly a week after conservative activist Charlie Kirk was assassinated on the Utah Valley University campus and months after Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman was killed at her home in Brooklyn Park. Those high-profile incidents have sparked wider debate about political violence, though Shorewood police determined Cappel’s case was not politically motivated.

The investigation remains ongoing.