Teen Saved Mom, Siblings In South Chicago Heights Stabbing: Cops

SOUTH CHICAGO HEIGHTS, IL - A teenage boy "vigorously fought" to save the life of his mother and younger siblings Wednesday afternoon. The boy is one of three people who were injured in a South Chicago Heights stabbing incident that police say resulted in the death of the offender.

"The young man is truly responsible for saving the life of his mother and protecting his siblings from physical harm," South Chicago Heights Police Chief Bill Joyce said in a news release.

Joyce said an initial investigation into the stabbing incident reported on Sauk Trail indicates it was a mother of three who was assaulted by her brother-in-law in a domestic violence situation.

The offender and mother were the most seriously injured and were taken to the Level 1 trauma center at the University of Chicago. The teenage son was also injured, but not critically.

The man police believe to have been the offender, identified by the Cook County Medical Examiner's Office as 23-year-old Juan Julloa-Acuna of South Chicago Heights, died from his injuries at 7:57 p.m. Wednesday.

The mother remained in serious condition as of late Thursday morning.

Charges won't be filed, as South Chicago Heights police say the young man acted in self-defense.

Image via Shutterstock