On October 29, 2024, at approximately 2:30 p.m., the McDonough County Sheriff’s Office was notified of an animal cruelty case east of Bardolph, IL on North 1450th Road.
The complainant had told McDonough County Central Dispatch that he suspected that four of his bulls had been shot. When deputies and detectives arrived on scene, two of the animals were already deceased. Two other bulls were shot, and the owner was tending to their injuries.
Deputies and Detectives recovered evidence from the scene of a shooting on the roadway.
At approximately 5:36 p.m., a Deputy with the McDonough County Sheriff’s Office stopped a suspected vehicle that was involved in a road rage incident in Macomb, Il. The vehicle, a 2001 Red Ford truck belonging to Oliver B. Hoffman, 18, of Canton, IL was involved in an incident with another vehicle. The driver of the vehicle was Hoffman, and he had several firearms inside of the vehicle.
During a search of the vehicle deputies located evidence that linked Hoffman to the scene on North 1450th Road involving the livestock that were shot.
During an interview with McDonough County Sheriff’s Detectives, Hoffman admitted to shooting the livestock the day before.
Oliver B. Hoffman, 18, of Canton, IL was charged with Aggravated Animal Cruelty, Reckless Discharge of a Firearm, Possession of a Firearm without a FOID, Felony Criminal Damage to Property $10,000 – $100,000.00, Unlawful use of a Weapon, Manufacturing of an Assault Weapon Attachment.
Hoffman will appear in McDonough County Court at 1:30 p.m. The Macomb Police Department, Western Illinois University Office of Public Safety, and the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office all assisted in the investigation.
All subjects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
***Courtesy of the McDonough County Sheriff’s Office***