On the evening of May 8, 2022, John Lee Colbert, a 70-year-old White/Caucasian male, was fatally shot at his home in Byron, Minnesota. The incident began when a suspicious vehicle pulled into the driveway of the Colbert residence. Colbert's son went to investigate and saw a man hiding near a garage on the property. He returned to the house to inform his father.
John Colbert then armed himself with a handgun and went outside with his son to investigate further.
As they approached the detached garage, a man later identified as William Shillingford, who was 31 at the time, was seen in a "shooting stance." Shillingford fired multiple rounds, striking Colbert. After being shot, Colbert managed to return to his house with his son, where he collapsed. His son then took the gun and fired two shots at Shillingford's vehicle. Despite the efforts of first responders, John Lee Colbert was pronounced dead at the scene from a gunshot wound that struck an artery in his right forearm.
Law enforcement officers who responded to the 911 call from Colbert's son quickly established a perimeter and began a search for the suspect. Shillingford was found hiding in a ditch by neighbors and was apprehended by officers about 30 minutes after the shooting. Authorities later located a 9mm handgun in a nearby unoccupied building. The investigation revealed that Shillingford and Colbert were acquaintances, and Shillingford had hunted on Colbert's property in the past.
William Shillingford of Kasson was charged with two counts of second-degree murder and one count of second-degree assault. On the day his trial was set to begin in November 2023, he pleaded guilty to second-degree unintentional murder. In January 2024, Shillingford was sentenced to nearly 22 years in prison for the killing of John Colbert.
