Oreana Resident Allegedly Threatens Contractor with Firearm

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DECATUR, Ill. (WCIA) — A contractor in Oreana experienced a terrifying encounter last week when a man allegedly threatened him with a firearm. Authorities have since charged the suspect.

According to records from Macon County court, 68-year-old Richard Jourdan is facing serious charges: felony aggravated unlawful possession of a weapon and misdemeanor aggravated assault. The Macon County Sheriff’s Office filed a statement indicating that the incident took place on South Street on the evening of December 20.

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Deputy Jack Armstrong, who provided the statement, reported that deputies arrived on the scene following a call about unlawful weapon use, where they interviewed the contractor involved. The contractor recounted that while he was constructing a fence in a backyard, Jourdan emerged from a nearby house.

“[The contractor] stated the individual was muttering something unclear and approached him in the alley,” Armstrong reported. “The individual then drew a small black semi-automatic handgun, still in its holster, using his left hand. [The contractor] reported the individual then threatened, ‘I will shoot you.’”

“[The contractor] advised the subject pointed the gun at his head for a moment and said, ‘I will blow your [expletive] brains out,” Armstrong said. “[The contractor] was visibly shaken while recalling the events.”

Armstrong said deputies went to the home the contractor pointed out and they made contact with Jourdan there. Jourdan reportedly told deputies that his truck had been recently vandalized, and he had seen a white truck — the contractor’s — parked nearby that he viewed as suspicious. The day of the incident, he saw the contractor going to and from the truck carrying things.

“Richard advised he went outside and told [the contractor] that he could be shot doing suspicious things like that,” Armstrong said. “Richard advised he had a small black 9mm handgun holstered in his left pocket.”

Armstrong added that Jourdan admitted to pulling the gun, still holstered, out of his pocket to show the contractor, but said he never unholstered it. He claimed to have shown the gun in order to scare the contractor.

Deputies later found the gun on Jourdan’s nightstand, unholstered with a loaded magazine, but no round in the chamber. Armstrong said that Jourdan later admitted there was a round in the chamber when he confronted the contractor.

It was determined that while Jourdan does have a valid FOID card that allows him to own a gun, he does not have a concealed carry permit.

Jourdan was arrested about an hour after deputies first responded and he appeared in court for the first time on Dec. 22. Court records show Jourdan was granted pretrial release with conditions, which included no contact with the contractor.

He is due back in court for a preliminary hearing on Jan. 14.