A Decatur man, Robert Loomer, 67, is facing legal proceedings after police claimed he exposed himself and then discharged a shotgun, following an altercation with a group of children.
According to Macon County court records, Loomer is charged with two Class 4 felony offenses related to weapon use; specifically reckless discharge of a firearm and aggravated unlawful possession of a weapon without a FOID card, rather than for the act of exposure.
The events took place on Sunday at the In & Out Convenience Store located on Woodford Street. In a sworn affidavit, Decatur Police reported that Loomer became agitated with several young individuals for undisclosed reasons. After trailing them out of the store to the rear of the premises, Loomer allegedly continued shouting and exposed himself by unzipping his pants.
The owner of the shopping plaza witnessed this act, police added.
During the altercation, Loomer reportedly wielded a shotgun, and was later observed in a nearby parking lot on Wellington Way. Witnesses claim Loomer vociferously declared his intention to find the children he was upset with and brandished the shotgun.
A witness stated that Loomer swung the weapon around before discharging it once in her general direction. She noted that Loomer did not aim directly at her, and she was unharmed by the pellets, although she heard them striking the side of her apartment building.
Police were dispatched at approximately 4:19 p.m. and discovered Loomer seated on a curb with the shotgun positioned on the ground beside him. Upon their arrival, Loomer complied with the officers’ instructions, stepping away from the weapon, and was subsequently taken into custody.
Police said that as he was being arrested, Loomer made an unsolicited comment that he had accidentally fired the gun. A spent shotgun shell was found inside the breach of the gun.
A check of Loomer’s criminal history found no convictions, but police said a check of his FOID status showed he did not have one.
Loomer appeared in court for the first time on Monday, where Judge Lindsey Shelton denied him pretrial release. She found that there was clear and convincing evidence that Loomer had committed detainable offenses, poses a real threat to public safety and that no conditions could mitigate that threat.
He is due back in court on Sept. 10 for a preliminary hearing, when he will enter a formal plea.
