2 Charged With Attempted Murder After Hammer Attack: Cops

SKOKIE, IL — A Skokie man and a Round Lake Beach man face charges of attempted murder in connection with an incident last month involving a person who was hit in the head with a hammer, police said. On July 26, cops were called to the 8900 block of Forestview Road, where an investigation determined there had been a dispute earlier in the day involving the two men and someone they knew. Later that day, "the original argument escalated and as a result, the victim was struck in the head with a hammer," Skokie police said in a release.

Eric J. Ledesma, 43, of the 8900 block of Forestview Road in Skokie and Leandes M. Ortiz, 45, of the 200 block of East Cobbler Court in Round Lake Beach were each charged with attempted murder the following day, according to police.

The survivor of the hammer blow was treated for a skull fracture at a local hospital and in stable condition, police said.

Ledesma and Ortiz were ordered held without bail at Cook County Jail ahead of an Aug. 16 court date in Skokie, according to the Cook County Sheriff's Office.

Police asked anyone with knowledge on this or similar incident to contact the Skokie Police Department by calling 847-982-5900, its tip line at 847-933-TIPS (8477) or by texting “Skokie” and your tip to 847411.