David L. Chesser was formally charged on Thursday, Oct. 10, with two counts of the offense, according to State's Attorney Bryant Hitchings. The charges allege that Mr. Chesser twice discharged a firearm in Mary's direction with the intent to kill or knowing such an act "created a strong probability of causing great bodily harm or death." Additionally, he was charged with the Class X Felony of Aggravated Discharge of a Firearm for allegedly knowingly firing the weapon within 1,000 feet of Beckemeyer Elementary School in Hillsboro while students were in session.

On Sept. 20, Mary Chesser, 68, crashed a vehicle in the front yard of a residence near the intersection of Fairground and Seymour Avenues. When Hillsboro Police Chief Randy Leetham arrived at the scene, he discovered that Mary's injuries were consistent with a shooting. She died on Oct. 1, at HSHS St. John's Hospital in Springfield.

Mr. Chesser is currently in custody at the Montgomery County Jail with bond set at $1 million. A Jury Trial is scheduled for December.