Hate Crime Charges For Man Accused Of Slashing Tires At Churches

PALOS HILLS, IL — A Palos Hills man already charged with vandalizing cars in two church parking lots “because he didn’t like Christians” has been indicted on 14 additional counts of felony hate crimes. Osama E. El Hannouny, 25, admitted to slashing tires on cars last fall, police said.

About 19 cars were found damaged Nov. 17 in the parking lots of First Baptist Church, 11015 S. Eastwood and at Sts. Helen and Constantine, 11025 S. Roberts Road in Palos Hills. El Hannouny was captured on video slashing tires in both church lots, police said.

Palos Hills police reviewed security video which they said showed a man in a black hooded sweatshirt, later identified as El Hannouny, slashing tires. When he was arrested, he admitted to damaging the cars because he didn’t like Christians.

>>> Church Tire-Slasher Tells Cops 'I Don't Like Christians:' Police

On Dec. 20, a Cook County grand jury indicted El Hannouny on 14 counts of felony hate crime, upgrading the criminal damage charges.

El Hannouny charged on the indictments and released on a $10,000 I-bond with electronic monitoring. El Hannouny’s next court date is Feb. 18 in Bridgeview.