Deputies seize 61 guns and a 3D printer after Williamson County man is accused of firing at a neighbor's home twice
The sheriff says the second round of gunfire hit the house about 40 minutes after deputies had warned him to stop.
By PorchBuzz Editorial · Marion, IL ·
Illustrative photo, not the Williamson County scene. Photo: Tony Webster, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Original image and attribution · CC BY-SA 2.0. Cropped and resized for this page.
A Williamson County man was arrested after deputies said he fired toward his neighbor's home not once but twice, the second time shortly after they had told him to stop.
When investigators came back with a court order, they took about 61 guns, a large amount of ammunition and a 3D printer.
William Jesse Breedwell, 38, was arrested on Oct. 11, according to Sheriff Jeff Diederich.
What happened near Prosperity and Stotlar roads?
Deputies were first called after a neighbor reported that gunfire had hit their home.
They spoke with Breedwell and warned him not to fire in that direction, the sheriff said.
About 40 minutes after deputies left, the neighbor called again. More gunfire had hit the home.
How did it end?
When deputies returned, Breedwell refused to come outside, slammed the door and went back inside, according to the sheriff.
A child was inside the home. Deputies got the child safely to a neighbor's house while they kept trying to talk him out.
The sheriff's office started bringing in its Special Response Team and getting ready for a search warrant. Breedwell surrendered before the team was sent in.
Why was there a 3D printer?
On Oct. 13 the sheriff's office worked with Illinois State Police to get a firearms restraining order and a search warrant.
Along with the guns and ammunition, authorities took a 3D printer that appeared to have been used to make firearm parts, the sheriff said.
Diederich also said Breedwell's Firearm Owner's Identification card had already been suspended because of violations found during an Illinois State Police investigation.
'Not in the business' of taking guns
The sheriff stressed the guns were taken under a court order because of the reported gunfire.
"The sheriff's office is not in the business going around Williamson County taking people's guns," Diederich said.
He said it was not a decision made lightly.
"But the circumstances present a public safety issue, and you know, the court concurred, and that's where we ended up," he said.
What is he charged with?
Breedwell faces charges of:
- Resisting or obstructing an officer
- Reckless conduct
- Reckless discharge of a firearm
- Forgery
He also faces another charge linked to providing a false training certificate, according to KBSI.
Where is he now?
KBSI's report did not mention anyone being hurt. Breedwell remained in the Williamson County Jail as of KBSI's report on Oct. 15.
Charges are allegations, not proof. Breedwell is presumed innocent unless and until he is proven guilty in court.
Sources
- KBSI FOX23, Oct. 15, 2026 (kbsi23.com)
- Williamson County Sheriff's Office (wcsheriff.com)
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