Court records: Highland Hills shooting suspect carried loaded pistol

Posted on August 18, 2019
Atwater
Dominique Atwater, 26, of Bloomington. (McLean County Sheriff’s Office Photo)

 

By Howard Packowitz

BLOOMINGTON – A court filing alleges a suspect in last Tuesday’s shooting in southwest Bloomington carried a loaded pistol without a valid license.

Among the felonies lodged against Dominique Atwater, 26, is a charge of unlawful use of a weapon.

The most serious charge of aggravated battery alleges Atwater shot a woman in the leg. Court records indicated Atwater lives near the crime scene on Springfield Road, in the Highland Hills Apartments.

The aggravated battery charge is a Class X felony, which could land Atwater in prison for up to 30 years if he’s convicted.

Other charges allege Atwater fired the weapon in the direction of four people.

Atwater reportedly drove the woman and another gunshot victim to a local hospital for treatment. Bloomington Police said the victims did not suffer life-threatening injuries, but have declined making other comments because they’re still investigating the case.

Atwater’s lawyer, Terry Dodds, said his client acted in self-defense.

Atwater remained jailed Sunday night on a $20,035 cash bond.

Howard Packowitz can be reached at [email protected]

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