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Joliet Father Who Shot Son Accused Boy Of Molesting Sisters

JOLIET, Ill. (STMW) - Roderick D. Tademy accused his 12-year-old son of molesting his younger sisters before shooting him in the head Monday night, prosecutors said Wednesday. The .22-caliber handgun then jammed as Tademy tried to use it on himself.

Tademy is charged with attempted murder, aggravated battery with a firearm, unlawful use of a weapon and unauthorized possession of a firearm.

Police have conducted victim-sensitive interviews with the boy's sisters, Assistant Will County State's Attorney Mary Fillipitch reported.

"There is no evidence any molestation occurred," she said.

Tademy, 35, was rejected for a firearm owner's identification card because he suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder and would put "himself, his family and the community at risk," Fillipitch said.

Police officers arrived at 5:30 p.m. Monday at the family's second-floor apartment at 1221 Cutter Ave. to find Tademy's wife "with a .22-caliber handgun in one hand and a towel in the other … holding it to the head of her son."

Obedyah Tademy, a seventh-grader at Hufford Junior High School, had been shot once over his left eye. He was rushed to Silver Cross Hospital and later transferred to Loyola Medical Center in Maywood. As of Wednesday afternoon, he was being kept alive on a ventilator, but had no brain activity, reports said.

Tademy's wife and the couple's 6-year-old twin daughters were in their bedrooms when a "loud clap" came from the living room, Fillipitch told Judge Marzell Richardson during a bond hearing.

"(Tademy) said, 'How can you let him molest our daughters?' (His wife) said, 'He didn't … (the boy's) dead," Fillipitch said.

Tademy's wife, 36, was holding her son when she heard a clicking sound and saw Tademy was holding the gun under his chin, attempting to pull the trigger.

"I'm sorry. I'm losing my mind," he reportedly told her.

Family members told investigators Tademy has been prone to periods of rage.

Tademy was arrested outside the apartment as police arrived on the scene Monday.

He appeared in court via videolink from the county jail Wednesday afternoon. He showed little reaction as the charges were read, but began sobbing as Fillipitch gave her summary and asked Richardson to set bond at $5 million.

Will County Public Defender Kurt Leinweber said it was unlikely Tademy could raise any reasonable amount toward his bail.

Should Tademy come up with $500,000, he would still be prohibited from going to his apartment or contacting his immediate family.

Police found an assault rifle, machine pistol and semi-automatic handgun and a crossbow and bolts while searching Tademy's residence.

Reports said the family moved to Joliet from the Atlanta area about two years ago. Tademy has an unlawful use of a weapon conviction from an arrest in 2008 by state police in Will County, reports said. He was sentenced to 12 months of conditional discharge for that crime, Fillipitch said.

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