LTHS Fight An 'Active' Investigation

LA GRANGE, IL – La Grange police are staying silent about the May 1 fight at Lyons Township High School that resulted in an attempted murder charge against one of the participants.

In response to a Patch inquiry Wednesday, La Grange Police Chief Robert Wardlaw said the village would post any updates on the investigation on its website.

He said there have been no changes in the investigation, which he described as "active" and "open."

At the May 22 school board meeting, Superintendent Brian Waterman said the student suffering from serious injuries in the fight was continuing to receive medical treatment.

Wardlaw, however, declined to comment on the injured student's status. The lack of information from the school and police about the altercation has resulted in much online speculation.

On May 10, La Grange police said they arrested a juvenile in the fight on charges of attempted first-degree murder and aggravated battery involving great bodily harm.

Police took the unusual step of declining to reveal the juvenile's age, gender, hometown or whether the juvenile is a student. Typically, police departments withhold a juvenile's name, but release the other information.

A few days after the altercation, police announced they arrested James Hernandez Jr., 18, of Brookfield, on a charge of battery.

On May 10, a student was hit by a car next to the high school's North Campus and taken to the hospital, the school said in an internal email that Patch later obtained.

Wardlaw, who is retiring June 9, declined to comment on the crash, other than to say the investigation was active.