A parolee was fatally shot inside a southwest suburban home Friday night while celebrating his release from prison earlier that day.
Nathan A. Hofkamp, 29, was celebrating with family members around 11:25 p.m. when “a disturbance broke out” inside a home in the 25000 block of Canal Road in Minooka, according to a statement from the Will County Sheriff’s office.
Authorities said James F. Hess, a “live in acquaintance” of Hofkamp’s mother, got upset and fired a gunshot, striking Hofkamp in the chest.
Hofkamp, who lived in Minooka, was taken to Saint Joseph Medical Center in Joliet, where he was pronounced dead Saturday morning, according to the Will County Coroner’s office.
The case is being investigated as a homicide, but the final cause and manner of his death was pending police, autopsy and toxicological reports.
Hess, 65, was charged with aggravated discharge of a firearm, the sheriff’s office said, and was being held at the Will County Adult Detention Facility to await a bond hearing. Additional charges against him were pending review by the Will County State’s Attorney’s office.
Hofkamp was released on parole from the Vienna Correctional Center in downstate Vienna on Friday, according to Illinois Department of Corrections records. He was serving a two-year sentence for theft and aggravated assault of a peace officer.
