A 19-year-old Kewanee man on home confinement since posting bond, is now free, on charges related to shooting people with an Orbeez gun, including children, while he was driving around Kewanee on April 11th. Alex Vandevoorde graduated Kewanee High School in 2021 as a Junior and has worked as a mechanic in Kewanee for the last 4 years, which is his only job since he was 16-years-old, according to testimony by Mr. Vandevoorde at his motion hearing. He also testified that he does not drink or do drugs and has never been in trouble with the law before the current charges. According to Assistant State’s Attorney Reynolds, the Kewanee Police Department was dispatched to Walmart for a report of individuals being shot from a vehicle as it was driving through the parking lot on April 11, 2023. Walmart employees provided a license plate to the Kewanee Police and the plate returned to Alex Vandevoorde. Alex Vandevoorde was identified as the subject shooting people with an Orbeez gun while he was driving his vehicle. Police found an Orbeez gun in the back seat of the suspect vehicle and Mr. Vandevoorde told police he was shooting at people as he was driving around. Additionally, three children were shot on Vine street while they were playing outside. A fourth child was shot in the head at the Dollar Store parking lot. All persons shot with the Orbeez gun had visible injuries and four of the children were under the age of 10-years-old. Orbeez guns are “toy” guns that shoot water or gel filled pellets.
Attorney Bruce Carmen argued that Alex Vandevoorde has posted bond and should not be on Home Confinement, he said it should be one or the other. Mr. Carmen said it was a “toy gun” and that Mr. Vandevoorde isn’t a threat to the community. ASA Reynolds said there is an attempt to downplay the incident where Mr. Vandevoorde is alleged to have shot at least four people in multiple locations.
Judge Colby Hathaway said it concerns the court that many victims are young children but the court is going to give Mr. Vandevoorde a chance to obey the laws. Judge Hathaway granted the Defense Motion to release Alex Vandevoorde from home confinement. Under the bond conditions, Alex Vandevoorde is prohibited from possessing firearms, ammunition or danegerous weapons. He is to have no contact with the victims and is not allowed to violate any laws. The State was required to provide a list of victims to the Defense for the bond order.
