Local News

Litchfield Man Arrested After Alleged Hillsboro Shooting

Sat, 21 Sep 2019 06:58:17 CDT

A single-vehicle accident in Hillsboro on Friday, Sep. 20, led to the arrest of a Litchfield man after police noticed a woman in the accident had injuries consistent with a gunshot wound.

Hillsboro Police Chief Randy Leetham responded to the accident at 10:53 a.m. in a person's yard at the intersection of Fairground and Seymour Avenues. Several neighbors were attempting to aid the female victim as Leetham arrived. That's when the Chief determined that the victim's injuries were not from the accident, but rather were consistent with a shooting.

The victim's family then called the police to inform them that an alleged shooting had occurred at the Free Methodist Church, located approximately three blocks south of the scene of the accident. Hillsboro Police Officers and Montgomery County Sheriff's Deputies were dispatched to secure both scenes.

The victim was taken by ambulance to Hillsboro Area Hospital before being airlifted to St. John's Hospital in Springfield in critical condition.

At 11:32 a.m., the suspect, later identified as 69-year-old David Chesser, returned to the church allegedly armed with a handgun and attempted to enter the building. At that time, students at Beckemeyer Elementary School, across from the scene of the accident, were preparing to dismiss early for a scheduled teachers work day. Police requested the school go on lock-down status until the suspect was apprehended.

Officers investigating at the church apprehended Chesser without incident. The investigation is ongoing.