Man accused of firing air rifle at Morton Grove mosque, UPDATED: With pic of pellet holes

Morton Grove mosque earlier this month

Friday night someone used an air rifle to shoot at the Morton Grove mosque, which is formally known as the Muslim Education Center. I drive past it almost every day. I drove past the mosque Friday night.

From CBS 2 Chicago:

A man allegedly fired a pellet rifle at a mosque in the northern suburb of Morton Grove Friday night while 500 people prayed inside.

The shooting happened while worshippers were celebrating the holy month of Ramadan at the Muslim Eduction Center, 8601 N. Menard Avenue, about 9:20 p.m., according to police and mosque officials.

Off-duty Chicago Police officers, who been hired to provide additional security at the mosque during Ramadan activities, called Morton Grove police after they saw an object whiz by and hit the building just above the head of one of the officers, according to Kamran Hussain, Vice President of the Muslim Community Center of Chicago, which owns the mosque.

MCC marchers--Morton Grove July 4 parade

Though the damage to the building was minor, there were about 500 people inside the mosque for prayers at the time of the shooting, Hussain said, adding that many kids from the congregation were outside of the building during the service.

Charged in the shooting was David Conrad, who the Chicago Tribune says has been charged "with three counts of aggravated discharge of a firearm and one count of criminal damage to property, all felonies." Conrad lives next to the mosque. I don't know him. The area surrounding the MEC is filled with residents who opposed its construction--the mosque opened in 2008. But much of the anger against the MEC has dissipated since then and some members of the congregation have moved into nearby homes.

Of Conrad, Hussain said, "He's always been a thorn in our side."

Members of the MEC--they also operate a school--marched in last month's Morton Grove Independence Day Parade.

UPDATE 4:15pm CDT:  I ran past the mosque just now. There are two pellet holes on a brick wall. The small pieces of paper are probably evidence markers.

Below is a wide shot of the wall--directly across the mosque's parking lot is the home of the accused.

Related post:

(Photos and video) 2012 Morton Grove July 4th parade