Eyewitness: 'Blood Was Pouring From His Chest'

JOLIET, IL - Will County prosecutors vowed to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that 44-year-old Rodney L. Jones stabbed a stranger from Bolingbrook in the chest last October outside Clementine's Pub. The non-fatal stabbing of Peter Guhrs was unprovoked, prosecutors argued. Monday marked both jury selection and the start of the defendant's trial. It's taking place in Courtroom 407 of Judge Dave Carlson.

Back on Oct. 28, the Bolingbrook tavern held its Halloween party. Many of the regulars wore costumes. There was even karaoke that night. Some customers gravitated to the bar's two pool tables. People mingled. They laughed. They drank alcohol. Occasionally patrons meandered outside to smoke their cigarettes.

That Saturday night, an unfamiliar face wandered into the bar. He was from Halifax, Virginia. Jones was alone. Late into the night, a few of the Clementine's patrons were outside smoking cigarettes when one of the customers ran through the parking lot. Moments later, "Rodney Jones stabs Peter three times," Assistant Will County State's Attorney Elizabeth Domagalla told the jury during opening statements.

"You will hear that Rodney Jones did not have any obvious injuries to him," Domagalla asserted. "The knife was located in his pocket."

Jones is standing trial on three serious felony crimes, all alleging aggravated battery. Domagalla and John Rickmon are prosecuting the out of town criminal defendant.

"I'm confident ... you will be able to sign all three guilty verdicts," Domagalla told the jury.

Jones is represented by Assistant Will County Public Defenders Todd Lenzie and Thomas Murphy.

During their side's opening statements, Murphy told the jury the defendant will take the stand after the prosecution rests.

"You are going to hear from Mr. Jones. He will testify."

As for Rodney Jones, "He was not the aggressor. He did not start the confrontation. The confrontation was brought to him," Murphy suggested.

"Mr. Jones believes force was necessary to defend his life in that moment."

Prosecutors called one witness Monday afternoon, Nanette Alvarez, who lived in Bolingbrook about 15 years.

Last Oct. 28, she dressed up as a police officer for the Clementine's Halloween party.

Late into night, she went outside for a cigarette. Guhrs was also outside at the time, she remembered.

Suddenly, off in the distance, she saw one of the patrons running back toward Clementine's. He was running from the vicinity of the Speedway station. Another person was giving chase.

"That man," Alvarez testified, referring to the defendant.

Alvarez testified she had never encountered Jones at the bar in the past.

"That man lunged toward Pete a few times, like a jousting motion," Alvarez told the courtroom. "He lunged toward Pete. After a few seconds, Pete ran towards me and said, 'I've been stabbed.' He was holding his stomach."

Alvarez was an experienced and trained nurse. She tried to take control of the chaotic situation until Bolingbrook Police and ambulance paramedics arrived at the bar.

It was scary. Her 53-year-old friend's life was in danger.

"His intestine was hanging out, protruding from his abdomen," Alvarez testified.

When Guhrs began to lift up his jacket, "blood was pouring from his chest," she told the jury.

Day 2 of the Will County jury trial resumes Tuesday morning in Courtroom 407.

ORIGINAL COVERAGE: Clementine's Bar Patron Recovering From Knife Wounds

Mugshot of Rodney L. Jones via the Will County Sheriff's Department