AR-15-Wielding Neighbor Speaks Out, 2 Charged In Stabbing

OSWEGO TOWNSHIP, IL — A witness used an AR-15 rifle to stop a knife attack Monday in the 100 block of Harbor Drive, the Kendall County Sheriff's Office said. According to police, deputies responded to a report of one person with a knife and another with a gun at the Oswego Township apartment complex. An investigation revealed the incident began as a "neighbor dispute," with the suspect inflicting multiple stab wounds on the victim, a 28-year-old man.

On Tuesday evening, the Kendall County Sheriff's Office said two people — a 19-year-old Naperville woman and a 22-year-old Oswego man — have been charged with aggravated battery and mob action, both felonies, in connection with the incident. Detective Bryan Harl said Jacob Currey, who lives in the Harbor Drive apartment building, is accused of stabbing the victim, who was taken to Rush-Copley Hospital in Aurora. Harl said teenager Alyssa Wright of the 8400 block of Una Avenue in Naperville, "was complicit to the point that it resulted in charges" in the attack.

Harl declined to release further details about what happened in the apartment complex or what caused the dispute that led to the stabbing. "I can't give specifics," Harl said, declining to say what role police believe Wright played in the stabbing.

The 28-year-old victim had been released from the hospital by Tuesday evening, Harl said.

Police said a witness to the stabbing retrieved an AR-15 rifle from his apartment and stopped the knife attack "with only a threat of force." The witness had both a valid firearm owner's ID card and a concealed carry permit, according to the sheriff's office.

The witness, who spoke with WGN-TV, said he ran to grab his AR-15 after hearing the commotion and seeing a "pool of blood" in the apartment building hallway. "Blood was everywhere," said neighbor Dave Thomas, adding that he chose the AR-15 over a handgun because, "Bigger gun, I think a little more of an intimidation factor. Definitely played a part in him actually stopping."

Thomas, who told the Chicago Tribune he teaches concealed carry classes, said Currey was "half a breath away from getting his head blown off and he knew that," adding, "That's why he put the knife down."

Thomas told reporters he ordered the suspect to stop the attack and then kept him in place until police arrived. The suspect reportedly got away briefly, but was apprehended by deputies.

Police initially said a knife-wielding suspect was quickly located and taken to the Kendall County Sheriff's Department. On Tuesday evening, the sheriff's office said two people — Currey and Wright — were actually taken into custody.

Currey was previously arrested on a domestic battery charge in May 2017, accused of smashing an egg on his girlfriend's head in Yorkville before throwing her into a wall. In July, he was arrested again by Kendall County police on Harbor Drive, accused of aggravated battery of a pregnant woman. Several days later, he was again charged, accused of nearly hitting two pedestrians, running a stop sign and crashing into a tree on Marina Drive before fleeing on foot. Currey was reportedly leaving the Harbor Drive apartment complex where deputies had been called for a report of "loud screaming" prior to the crash.

The Kendall County Sheriff's Office said they were assisted by the Oswego Police Department, Montgomery Police Department, Aurora Police Department, Kane County Sheriff’s Office, Kendall County Criminal Intelligence Team and members of the public.

Main photo: Jacob Currey/Photos via Kendall County Sheriff's Office