Army veteran fights off man threatening children with knives

MORTON, Ill. (AP) - A 75-year-old army veteran is recovering from injuries suffered when he fought off a knife-wielding man who threatened children at a central Illinois library.

James Vernon suffered several cuts as he battled 19-yer-old Dustin Brown, who entered the Morton Public Library on Tuesday threatening to commit murder.

Vernon, a retired Caterpillar Inc. employee, told the Pekin Daily News (http://bit.ly/1LegA6o) he tried to calm Brown and deflect his attention from 16 children attending his chess class. However, Brown responded by slashing Vernon with a knife. Vernon disarmed the man in the ensuing struggle, during which the children escaped.

Brown, who was free on child pornography charges, is being held in lieu of $800,000 on charges of attempted murder, armed violence and aggravated battery. It wasn't immediately known if Brown has a lawyer.

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Information from: Pekin Daily Times, http://www.pekintimes.com