A burglar shot and killed by a mother as she hid her baby in a closet during a home invasion was a serial criminal who’d only recently been freed from jail.
Shelby Hurd, 36, died last Tuesday after being blasted in the head with a bullet while entering the unidentified mother’s home in Joliet, Illinois.
Patch reported that Hurd was only freed on parole in February this year over a slew of previous burglary convictions.
In 2024, he pleaded guilty to two separate burglary incidents that took place 10 days apart in March 2022.
Hurd was sentenced to four years with 170 days credit for time served. It is unclear how he ended up being freed back onto the streets in early 2025.
The burglar also spent previous stints behind bars over 2019 charges for burglary of a vehicle, possession of a stolen vehicle and being a felon in possession of a weapon.
His Facebook profile contained numerous disturbing posts, including one shortly after his release from prison earlier this year where he said: ‘Sacrificed my peace and sleep.
‘I did some sh (sic) you couldn’t imagine.’
Shelby Hurd, 36, was shot and killed last Monday by an Illinois mother whose home he had just broken into
Hurd had a lengthy criminal history and was a serial burglar. He broke into his final victim’s home wearing gloves and carrying a screwdriver. The above Facebook post was made shortly after he was released on parole for robbery charges in February
Another post made in April 2023 – before Hurd’s most recent incarceration – said: ‘I’m from the streets… Better look both ways before you cross me.’
Hurd’s final burglary saw him break into the home of the woman – who he did not know – around 10:30pm on Tuesday August 12.
He was wearing gloves and carrying a screwdriver, police say.
The mother who was in the house realized it was being broken into and rushed to an upstairs bedroom with her newborn.
She placed the infant in a closet to try and keep them safe just as Hurd burst into that room.
The mom opened fire and shot Hurd in the head. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Last week’s horror took place on a peaceful suburban street whose large homes are surrounded by greenery.
Joliet sits around 40 miles southwest of Chicago.
Shelby Hurd, 36, died last Tuesday
Hurd broke into a street on this peaceful street in Joliet at 10:30pm last Tuesday. A young mother who was inside rushed upstairs to hide her baby in a closet, then shot Hurd in the head as he broke into the bedroom
Another post made by Hurd on Facebook before his final incarceration. Illinois does not have a stand your ground law – but there are self-defense exceptions for people defending their own homes
The city’s downtown area is known to have a crime problem, but the burglary took place about seven miles west in a very quiet area.
Joliet Police said an investigation into the burglary and shooting was ongoing.
They said the mother who shot and killed Hurd was cooperating fully.
Many commenters on Joliet Police Department’s Facebook post about the shooting hailed the mother, with one even calling for her to be granted the freedom of the city.
Illinois does not have a ‘stand your ground’ law, with locals encouraged to try and retreat before using deadly force.
But exceptions apply – including during a home invasion such as the one that unfolded last week.