SKOKIE, Ill. – A man accused of shooting a “high-velocity” air rifle at a Morton Grove, Ill., mosque was ordered Monday to undergo an anger management evaluation and to stay away from members of the Islamic center if he is released from jail.

David Conrad, 51, who lives next to the mosque, appeared at a hearing in the Skokie courthouse, where his bond was set at $45,000.

He is charged with aggravated discharge of a firearm and criminal damage to property, both felonies, and also with misdemeanor possession of a firearm without a firearm owner’s ID card, prosecutors said.

Firearm owner’s ID cards are required for those who own air rifles that shoot more than 700 feet per second, said Morton Grove Police Cmdr. Paul Yaras. He said the air rifle that Conrad allegedly used shot 1,200 feet per second.

Prosecutors, neighbors and members of the mosque have all said that Conrad had complained for years about noise, traffic and other issues related to the mosque.

They also said there had been evidence of past incidents involving a similar weapon having been fired at the mosque but that they could not tie these to Conrad.

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Authorities said the Muslim Education Center was busy for a Ramadan evening prayer service Friday when Conrad allegedly fired the air rifle from his property, striking a wall and narrowly missing a security guard.

Judge Marguerite Quinn sternly warned Conrad not to go on mosque property or seek contact with any members. She also required him to wear an electronic home monitoring device in the evenings if he is released from jail.

“This is the holy month of Ramadan, and it will not be because of your actions that these services be disturbed. If you do, you will be sitting in the Cook County Jail,” the judge said.

Conrad, who stood quietly during the hearing and wore a maroon-colored Virginia Tech T-shirt, told the judge he understood.

Conrad, who has worked for a tree business for 25 years, attended forestry school at Virginia Tech, according to minutes of a Morton Grove meeting on the village’s website. Among his apparent complaints about the mosque were that it was built on park property and that trees had not been properly cared for.

Conrad is a longtime village volunteer, said his attorney Al Knorr, who referred to Conrad as a “pillar of the community.” Knorr disputed police reports that Conrad admitted to shooting the air rifle and said Conrad maintains his innocence. Knorr also said Conrad owns no other firearms.

 


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