Crime & Safety

Harvard Man Charged after Shooting Bag of Cat Food, Nearly Striking Woman

Several people were target shooting at a residence on Route 14 in Woodstock, and a stray bullet nearly struck a nearby homeowner.

A Harvard man was arrested on Sunday for recklessly shooting a gun after one errant bullet struck a bag of cat food while a woman was carrying it outside a Woodstock home. 

Kirk McDowell, 48, of the 100 block of Dewey St., was arrested at about 2 p.m. Dec. 15, and charged with reckless discharge of a firearm, a Class 4 felony, according to a McHenry County Sheriff's Office news release.

A woman living in the 3500 block of Lily Pond Road in Woodstock was walking outside her home at about 1:40 p.m., carrying a bag of cat food when the bag was suddenly struck by a bullet, the news release stated. 

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The spent bullet was located.

The victim told Sheriff's police she heard gunfire to the south of her home prior to the incident. 

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Sheriff's deputies determined several people were target shooting outside of a residence located in the 9600 block of Route 14, Woodstock, the release states. 

Investigators learned McDowell was firing the particular firearm that discharged the bullet that struck the cat food bag. The McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office made the decision that McDowell would be criminally charged, the release states.

McDowell's bond was set at $10,000. He is scheduled to appear in court Dec. 18. 


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