Chicago area: Armed mom hiding baby in closet fatally shoots intruder, parolee

A 36-year-old parolee with a long history of burglary convictions was shot and killed late Friday night, Aug. 18, after forcing his way into a Joliet, Illinois, home, where a woman was hiding with her infant.

Police say the incident began about 10:30 p.m. on the 7000 block of Hadrian Drive in Joliet, which is about 40 miles southwest of Chicago. Officers responding to reports of a home invasion found evidence of forced entry and an unresponsive man upstairs with a gunshot wound to the head.

The man, identified as Shelby Hurd of Chicago, was pronounced dead at 3:05 a.m. Saturday by the Will County Coroner’s Office.

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According to Joliet Police Sgt. Dwayne English, the female resident heard someone break in, grabbed a firearm, and hid in a closet with her infant. When Hurd entered the bedroom, she fired, striking him once in the head.

“The suspect was wearing gloves and in possession of a screwdriver at the time of the incident,” Sgt. English said. “The suspect was not known to the victim.”

The woman and her child were unharmed.

Suspect's criminal history

Court records show Hurd had multiple burglary convictions across Will and Cook counties.

He was sentenced in 2024 for burglaries committed in Tinley Park and Frankfort and was paroled in February of this year. His record also included burglary, identity theft, possession of a stolen vehicle, and weapons charges.

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Police say the evidence makes clear Hurd entered the residence to commit a burglary, though why he targeted that particular home remains under investigation.

Community reaction, ongoing investigation

Neighbors reported hearing multiple gunshots and shared doorbell camera video showing police vehicles arriving at the scene.

The Joliet Police Department and Will County State’s Attorney’s Office are continuing their investigation, but as of now, the woman is not facing charges.

Her actions appear to be a textbook case of self-defense — protecting herself and her child when confronted by an intruder with a violent past.

Republished with permission from AmmoLand.

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