Two suspects are charged with attempted murder after prosecutors say one of them held up an unconscious victim while the other beat him with a pipe over 30 times in Waukegan, leaving him in critical condition.
Calvin S. Sims, 54, of Waukegan, and Jeffery L. Keys, 43, of Waukegan, were both charged with attempted murder, aggravated battery with a deadly weapon and aggravated battery causing great bodily harm.
The Waukegan Police Department responded around 5:30 p.m. Monday to the Dunkin’, 1609 Grand Avenue, for a report of a fight in progress.
Lake County Assistant State’s Attorney Mary Vukovich said officers arrived and a witness reported Keys was beating a Hispanic male with a brick.
The witness gave a description of the two male black suspects and officers located Keys and Sims nearby.
Video surveillance footage was reviewed and showed the victim rush up to Keys in the parking lot of the Dunkin’.
Vukovich said Keys struck the victim with a large PVC pipe and the victim dropped a brick onto the ground that he was holding.
Keys picked up the brick and struck the victim with it, Vukovich said. The victim crawled into a fetal position and covered his head with his hands.
Vukovich said Keys began stomping on the victim’s head and striking the victim with the brick until he went unconscious.
Sims was seen handing Keys the PVC pipe and picking up the unconscious victim, Vukovich said.
Vukovich said Sims held the unconscious victim up as Keys struck the victim approximately 30 times with the pipe.
The victim was transported to Advocate Condell Medical Center in Libertyville.
He suffered a fractured skull, a broken jaw, a collapsed lung and a broken rib. He was intubated on a breathing machine and had not regained consciousness.
The victim later underwent surgery and remains intubated as of Thursday, Vukovich said.
The Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office filed a petition to detain Keys and Sims pending trial, calling them a real and present threat to the community.
Keys has prior arrests for assault and battery, including four prior domestic battery arrests, along with burglary convictions.
Sims has six prior battery and domestic battery arrests.
Lake County Judge Theodore Potkonjak granted both petitions to detain the two men in the Lake County Jail following separate detention hearings held Thursday afternoon.
“It’s very possible this attempted murder charge becomes a murder charge,” the judge said, noting that the victim remains hospitalized on a ventilator.
Keys and Sims are both scheduled to appear in court again on October 31 for a preliminary hearing.