A Schaumburg man who shot a 66-year-old landscaper during a dispute over noise, then barricaded himself inside his home for hours, has been sentenced to 10 years in prison. Michael Lang pleaded guilty to one count of attempted murder for the July 2024 shooting on South Braintree Drive, a case that ended with the victim suffering life-threatening injuries and police negotiating with Lang for hours before he gave himself up.
Lang will receive credit for the 825 days he has already spent in custody, according to ABC7 Chicago, which first reported the plea and sentence. The station reported that the shooting happened in the 800 block of South Braintree Drive, where Lang opened fire on a tree trimmer working nearby.
A Noise Complaint Turns Violent
Prosecutors said Lang was shouting at the landscapers for making too much noise and telling them to leave, per the same ABC7 account. Police said that as the workers began gathering their equipment to go, Lang allegedly retrieved a handgun from his car and then shot one of the workers in the abdomen.
Lang is reported to have told the crew, “I told you to leave or one of you was going to die,” according to ABC7's account of the incident. The Daily Herald reported prosecutors attributed a nearly identical statement to Lang, quoting him as saying, “I told you to leave or one of you is going to die.”
Hours-Long Standoff Followed The Shooting
After the shooting, Lang began an hours-long standoff with police rather than immediately surrendering. During that standoff, Lang told a 911 dispatcher that someone was sending him messages from outer space, according to NBC Chicago. The outlet reported that Lang remained inside the residence until exiting and surrendering at 9:18 p.m.
The 66-year-old landscaper received emergency medical treatment at the scene before being transported to Advocate Lutheran General Hospital, per ABC7's reporting. NBC Chicago separately reported that the victim was treated for a fractured spine, a ruptured liver and internal intestinal damage, underscoring the severity of the wounds inflicted during the confrontation.
Victim's Family Says He Is Recovering
At last check, the victim was in serious but stable condition, ABC7 reported. The outlet noted that the victim's family did not want to appear on camera but said their loved one remained hospitalized and was doing okay.
With Lang's guilty plea now entered and his sentence handed down, the case closes out more than two years after a dispute over lawn equipment noise escalated into a shooting and a standoff that tied up a Schaumburg neighborhood for hours.
