Man Charged With Attempted Murder After Hammer Attack
OAK PARK, Ill. (STMW) -- Nine days after stealing from his ex-partner, a 54-year-old man returned and beat him with a hammer Monday, in west suburban Oak Park.
Odell Johnson was arrested at his ex's apartment in the 400 block of South Maple Avenue Monday night, and charged with attempted murder and aggravated battery.
The morning of Jan. 4, Johnson allegedly went to his ex's apartment, where the two got into an argument, according to Oak Park Police Cmdr. LaDon Reynolds.
According to Reynolds, Johnson locked his ex out of the apartment, stole a Samsung cellphone, wallet and keys, and then left while the man was calling police from a neighbor's apartment.
Though the ex had signed complaints against Johnson, the man invited Johnson back into his apartment for dinner the night of Jan. 13, according to Reynolds. Johnson arrived intoxicated, Reynolds said, and after drinking with his ex over dinner, they began to argue again.
When the victim walked away from Johnson and into his bedroom, Johnson grabbed a hammer, came up behind his ex and hit the man twice in the head, Reynolds said.
The two struggled, and Johnson hit his ex several more times with the hammer, Reynolds said. The man was finally able to get Johnson outside of the apartment and call police, who arrived and arrested Johnson at the scene.
The victim was transported to Rush Oak Park Hospital, where he was treated for a broken nose and several cuts that required stitches, police said. He was treated and released, police said.
Johnson's bond was set at $100,000.
(Source: Sun-Times Media Wire © Chicago Sun-Times 2014. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)