Two held in forest preserve attack
A pair of Rolling Meadows teenagers who authorities say staged a violent attack on revelers in a Cook County forest preserve were ordered held on $75,000 bond Friday.
Alejandro Rosario, 19, and Marco Silva, 18, both admitted gang members, face charges of mob action and aggravated battery stemming from the incident, authorities said.
The attack left their victims hospitalized.
Prosecutors say it began when Silva and Rosario flashed gang signs at a group gathered to celebrate a baptism at Ned Brown Meadow, part of Busse Woods Forest Preserve, on Sept. 2. The two were not part of the party.
The incident grew into a physical altercation, Assistant State's Attorney Scott Biestek said, with Rosario stabbing one man in the arm with a knife and Silva, armed with a baseball bat, beating a second man on the side of the head.
The arm injury required surgery at Northwest Community Hospital in Arlington Heights, Biestek said. The other victim suffered a skull fracture and had surgery at Alexian Brothers Medical Center in Elk Grove Village.
Neither of the victims are gang members, Biestek said.
Police have been investigating the incident since it happened, Biestek said. The two teenagers had their bond hearing before Cook County Judge Kay Marie Hanlon.
Authorities said Silva is a high school senior who attends night classes and works full time. Rosario also is a high school senior.
If released on bond, they'll face a nighttime curfew and be subjected to drug testing. They're due in court Oct. 12.