Crime & Safety

Sheriff: Lombard Man Threatened "Columbine Type" Courthouse Shooting

A man awaits extradition in Denver, CO, after posting threats of extreme violence at the DuPage County Courthouse to Facebook.

Daniel McDade, 31, of Lombard is charged with two felonies after threatening to do a "Columbine type" shooting at the DuPage County courthouse in Wheaton, DuPage County Sheriff John Zaruba announced Monday.

Sheriff's detectives said they started investigating after a citizen sent a tip that McDade was threatening courthouse employees and "extreme violence" when he returned to the courthouse for a drug test scheduled for April 4.

According to a news release from the sheriff's office, McDade, on bail for a DUI, posted threatening and "disturbing" messages on Facebook after he received notice of the April 4 court appearance. He posted that he would shoot several people including children, police and public officials in a “Columbine” type shooting at the courthouse, according to the release.

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Detectives on April 2 found McDade, who was ordered not to leave Illinois, in Denver, CO, officials said. 

McDade is charged with one felony count of threatening a public official, a class 3 felony, and one count of disorderly conduct, a class 4 felony. He is currently at the Denver County Jail and is awaiting extradition back to DuPage County, according to the release.

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“All threats no matter how extreme or seemingly insignificant need to be taken seriously,” Zaruba said in a statement. “It is my responsibility to maintain a safe and secure environment for those who either attend or work in our courthouse."


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