A McHenry man is in custody after prosecutors say he committed a home invasion by forcing entry and threatening a resident with a shotgun in a “terrifying confrontation” over an alleged debt.
Jim W. Burmeister, 53, of McHenry, was charged with home invasion while armed with a firearm, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, carrying or possessing a firearm in public and possession of a firearm with a valid FOID card.
A criminal complaint filed in McHenry County Circuit Court alleges that Burmeister committed a home invasion while armed with a firearm around 1 p.m. Friday while threatening the imminent use of force in an effort to obtain money from a victim.
The complaint said Burmeister used a “shotgun/long gun” to place the victim in reasonable apprehension of being harmed during the incident, while also threatening to shoot the victim in the knees over an alleged debt before he appeared at the house.
Burmeister is not legally allowed to possess the gun as he does not have a valid Firearm Owner’s Identification card, the complaint said.
The McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office called it a “disturbing and targeted incident.”
Prosecutors said Burmeister was angered over a claimed debt related to construction work.
Burmeister first sent a series of threatening text messages to the victim before escalating the situation into a “terrifying confrontation,” prosecutors said.
Prosecutors said Burmeister later went to the victim’s home, forced his way inside without permission and threatened to shoot the victim inside their own residence while in possession of a shotgun.
He eventually fled the scene without discharging the weapon, prosecutors said.
The McHenry County Sheriff’s Office responded and took Burmeister into custody.
McHenry County State’s Attorney Randi Freese condemned the incident and said it was a “calculated and deeply alarming act.”
“No one should have to face armed threats inside their own home. There were certainly better options to resolve this dispute. We will continue to take decisive action to protect our community and hold offenders accountable,” Freese said.
The McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office filed a petition to detain Burmeister pending trial, arguing he poses a real and present danger.
McHenry County Judge Michael Zasadil granted the petition following an Initial Appearance Court hearing on Saturday.
Burmeister remains held in the McHenry County Jail and is scheduled to appear in court again on Wednesday.