Glendale Heights man charged in stabbing death

An 18-year-old Glendale Heights man has been charged with murder, attempted murder and aggravated battery in the stabbing death of an Aurora man and the stabbing of a Chicago woman at a Saturday night graduation party near Glen Ellyn.

Bail for Alberto Jimenez, who has a violent criminal history as both an adult and juvenile, was set at $3 million by DuPage County Judge Karen Wilson.

Jimenez, appearing before the judge via video, had his right hand and forearm heavily bandaged and appeared to have a cut over his left eye - injuries that prosecutors said he suffered in other fights earlier Saturday evening before the fatal stabbing.

Jimenez, of the 500 block of Gregory Avenue, told Wilson he plans to hire an attorney.

Assistant State's Attorney Steve Knight, deputy chief of the special prosecutions unit, said Jimenez punched and stabbed 19-year-old Verkita Vargas before tussling with and eventually stabbing and killing 19-year-old Tehavis Price just after 10:30 p.m. on the front lawn of a home on the 2N300 block of Prairie Avenue.

Price was stabbed six times - three in the chest and once each in the side, groin and shoulder - with a folding pocket knife that prosecutors said has been recovered. They said Price's heart was pierced three times and his lung was punctured.

Vargas, who was stabbed once, is being treated at Rush Copley Medical Center in Aurora.

Knight said in bond court that Jimenez was involved in several fights throughout the night, some centering around his gang affiliation, which ultimately disrupted the high school graduation party.

Knight said Vargas and Price were attacked as they tried to leave the party after they "had enough of (Jimenez's) nonsense going on at the party."

Officials close to the investigation say Jimenez panicked when he saw Vargas' car running in the driveway and thought the car was full of people coming to attack him for his roles in the fights earlier in the night. They said Jimenez knew and was friendly with both the victims and didn't realize whom he had attacked until later.

Vargas' sister, who wished to remain unnamed, said previously that she threw the high school graduation party for her 18-year-old son and about 60 of his friends. She said she believed Jimenez, whom she knew previously, was intoxicated and confrontational as soon as he arrived at the party. She said she confronted him when she saw him "picking fights" with others at the party.

She said the party was ending about 10:30 p.m. when Jimenez pulled a knife and charged at her sister, who was sitting in a car. She said Jimenez punched her sister in the face, breaking her braces, and then stabbed her in the abdomen. Price was stabbed repeatedly as he attempted to protect Vargas.

"This senseless murder will leave a hole in the heart of those who loved Tehavis, and our thoughts and prayers are with them as they attempt to come to terms with this tragic crime," DuPage County State's Attorney Robert Berlin said in a written statement following the bail hearing.

At the time of the stabbing, Jimenez was on intense juvenile probation and was free on bail and facing an Aug. 5 trial on charges stemming from an aggravated assault, battery and unlawful use of a weapon in March. In January, he was charged with unlawful contact with street gang members.

Jimenez also has faced several ordinance violations for consumption and/or possession of alcohol by a minor, according to court records.

Jimenez's next court appearance is scheduled for July 7 when he will be arraigned in front of Judge Robert Kleeman.