CHICAGO HEIGHTS, IL – A tragic incident unfolded in a south suburban neighborhood in Chicago Heights when two teenage brothers were stabbed, with one succumbing to his injuries. In response, police have arrested and charged a 50-year-old man on Wednesday with the gruesome attack.
The accused, Oronde Hardy, faces charges of first-degree murder and attempted murder. He was presented in a detention hearing on Friday, where he was ordered to be detained at Cook County Jail until his trial date.
The police responded to a disturbance call around 3:50 p.m. on Monday near the intersection of 15th and Hanover streets. Upon arrival, they found two teenage boys suffering from stab wounds.
According to the boys’ mother, the ordeal began when her sons were playing on a playground with their sister on Monday afternoon. Hardy allegedly approached the kids and started giving them strange and nasty looks. The brothers confronted Hardy and warned him to leave them alone, sparking an argument in the process and leading to Hardy stabbing both boys.
David Sanchez, a 13-year-old victim, was rushed to Comer Children’s Hospital. He tragically passed away on Tuesday, as reported by police and the Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office. David’s elder brother, 14 years of age, was admitted to Stroger Hospital for his recovery.
Hardy reportedly fled the scene after the stabbing incident, whereas both the victims were admitted to nearby hospitals for immediate medical treatment. Police arrested Hardy on Wednesday, aided by the use of license plate reader technology.
David Sanchez’s family is now planning his funeral scheduled for March 7 and has started a GoFundMe page to cover the funeral costs, while simultaneously mourning their tragic loss.