A Galesburg man is facing attempted murder charges after he’s accused of shooting his ex-girlfriend’s house twice within days.
Galesburg Police were first dispatched to 1573 Willard St. for a report of shots fired on Wednesday April 3 at around 5:30 p.m.
Several neighbors told police that they heard five to six shots.
Police noted in their reports that there five marks on the residence where it had been hit by some type of projectile from a firearm.
There were holes in the two front windows, two holes in the siding and one in the front door’s frame. When officers went to the back of the residence they found two more 1.5 inch holes in the back windows, which they believe is where the suspects rounds exited.
Officers recovered 4 shell casings but no bullets on scene.
Police tried to contact who they believed was the owner of the residence with no luck. Officers did enter the house for a safety check after first yelling out to anyone inside through a window and found no one inside.
Then the same residence at 1573 was shot again two days later on April 5, displaying several new bulletholes.
Once again several neighbors heard the shots and several saw a silver Dodge Ram truck driving away after.
This time the house’s tenant arrived and spoke with police.
She said the shooter was her ex-boyfriend and they recently broke up after dating briefly.
Although she knew him as “JT” police were able to identify as 36-year-old Justin Owens.
Owens was arrested after police executed a search warrant at his home on Academy St.
The Knox County State’s Attorney has charged Owens with attempted murder a Class X felony.
Judge Chad Long granted the state’s request to continually detain Owens.
His next court appearance will be April 22 for a preliminary hearing.
