MONTICELLO, Iowa (KCRG) – A man accused in the shooting death of an eastern Iowa grocery store employee earlier this week, was not allowed to buy or possess a gun, under state and federal law. KCRG-TV reports 38-year-old Nathan Russell, of East Dubuque, had been arrested in September 2022, on charges of unlawful possession of a weapon by a felon and possession of methamphetamine.

Russell took a plea deal with the Jo Daviess County, IL, State Attorney, pleading guilty to felony possession of methamphetamine. A judge sentenced him to 2 years in prison and a year of supervised release. That should have meant he was in prison or on parole at the time of Tuesday’s fatal shooting outside of the Monticello Fareway store, of 48-year-old Aaron McAttee.
However, the Illinois Department of Corrections said Russell was no longer an inmate and not in their parole system. Jo Daviess County State’s Attorney Chris Allendorf could not say how much time Russell actually served or why he was released early because state law at the time of the conviction meant that decision was entirely up to the Illinois Department of Corrections.

Police found Russell in Hopkinton after he left the scene of the shooting. A Sheriff’s Deputy shot Russell when he allegedly failed to comply when he was being taken into custody.
While his case proceeds through the court system, funeral services for Aaron McAtee were set. Visitation is scheduled for Tuesday November 14, 2023 from 2-until 8-p.m., at the Monticello Berndes Center. A Celebration of Life will be held 11-a.m. Wednesday, November 15th, at the same location.

A fund for the family of Aaron McAtee Family was set up at DuTrac Community Credit Union in Monticello.