An Orland Park man has been charged with attempted murder and home invasion following a violent incident in an unincorporated Lyons Township apartment building, according to Cook County Sheriff Thomas J. Dart. Charges are expected to be upgraded to murder after one of the victims died from her injuries.
The incident occurred around 5:30 p.m. on Monday, August 11, when a Sheriff’s Police officer responded to a domestic violence report at an apartment in the 6400 block of Joliet Road. Upon arrival, the officer found Juan Carlos Perez-Abarca, 35, holding a 48-year-old woman at knife point on the floor while a second victim, a 16-year-old girl, lay motionless nearby.
Authorities said the officer ordered Perez-Abarca to release the woman. "Perez briefly put the knife to his own throat, and then began stabbing the adult female victim again, at which time the officer fired one shot, striking Perez-Abarca in the leg," according to the statement.
The officer provided medical aid to both victims and Perez-Abarca. The two women were transported to local hospitals. The adult woman remains in serious condition. The teenager was pronounced dead at 10:13 p.m. Thursday night.
On Wednesday, August 13, prosecutors approved two counts of attempted murder and one count of home invasion against Perez-Abarca.
Perez-Abarca was discharged from the hospital last night and appeared in a wheelchair for his initial court appearance at Bridgeview Courthouse today. He was ordered held without bond at Cook County Jail until his next court date on September 5.
"In court, an assistant state’s attorney informed the judge that the 16-year-old victim died of her injuries Thursday night, and that prosecutors would upgrade the charge to murder against the defendant."
"The public is reminded the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law."