Palatine man charged in roommate’s stabbing

Editor’s note: This story was updated to correct the description of the knife used in the attack.

An argument between two roommates escalated and culminated in one stabbing the other with a hunting knife outside their Palatine apartment, Palatine police said.

And now, while his roommate lingers in critical condition in intensive care at Lutheran General Hospital with wounds to his abdomen, Enrique Galeana, 38, faces two felony counts of aggravated battery.

About 8:30 a.m. Monday, Palatine police were called to the 1700 block of North Rose Avenue. The caller said there was a man lying in the hallway bleeding from his abdomen, police said.

The victim was taken to Advocate Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge, where, after multiple surgeries, he remains in critical condition.

Palatine Police Cmdr. Dave Daigle said the argument actually began earlier that morning in a different location after one roommate confronted the other. It has not been disclosed who was the instigator or what that argument was about, but it was intense enough to be revived in their apartment later that morning.

Daigle said the confrontation that led to the stabbing began in the kitchen, where Galeana got a butcher knife, the knife police said he used to stab his roommate once in the abdomen.

After he was stabbed, Daigle said, the victim was in the hallway, calling for help, while Galeana fled.

A neighbor responded to the call and sent for help.

Daigle said it was at the hospital that the victim identified Galeana as his attacker. Police found Galeana on Tuesday in an apartment on the 1500 block of Silver Lane. Daigle said Galeana surrendered without a struggle.

Daigle confirmed that a third roommate witnessed Monday morning’s incident.

He said police are not aware of any criminal history for Galeana.

On Friday, Galeana appeared at a bond hearing in Rolling Meadows court. Bond was set at $30,000, police said. His next court date is Jan. 24.