Kasson Man Sentenced for 2022 Murder of Rochester Area Man

Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News) - A Dodge County man was sentenced today for the murder of a Byron area man outside his home near Oxbow Park.

33-year-old William Shillingford was handed a nearly 22-year prison term for his conviction on a second-degree intentional murder charge stemming from the death of 70-year-old John Colbert in May 2022. Shillingford entered a guilty plea to the charge on November 1 just as his trial was getting underway in Olmsted County Court.

The Kasson man shot and killed Colbert during an exchange of gunfire on the victim's property on the eastern edge of Oxbow Park. According to the criminal complaint, the victim's son spotted Shillingford hiding around the corner of the detached garage after he saw Shillingford park his vehicle in the driveway. After he was alerted by his son, Colbert grabbed a handgun and went outside with his son to investigate.

The criminal complaint says security camera videos show Shillingford shooting up the victim multiple times after assuming what was described as "a shooting stance." His son told investigators that Colbert managed to fire two bullets at Shillingford after he had been shot. Colbert then managed to get back inside his home before he collapsed from the fatal gunshot wound.

The incident prompted a massive law enforcement response that led to Shillingford's capture at a property located less than a half-mile from the crime scene.

Shillingford has been ordered to begin serving his prison sentence at the St. Cloud State Prison. He was given credit for the 610 days he has already spent in jail since his arrest.

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