Brookfield man charged in fight at LTHS north campus

By Steve Metsch

A Brookfield man has been charged with battery in what La Grange officials are calling “an altercation” at Lyons Township High School that left one youth with “severe injuries.”

La Grange Police on Friday arrested James Hernandez Jr., and charged him with battery in relation to a May 1 fight at the high school’s north campus, according to a news release late Friday afternoon from La Grange Village Manager Jack Knight.

Patch reported Hernandez was a student at the high school and that he was 18 years old.

“The incident involved an altercation involving several juveniles and an adult, which resulted in the injury of two juveniles. One of the juveniles sustained severe injuries,” the release said.

“The investigation remains open and active at this time,” the release said. “This was an isolated incident and does not pose a threat to the community.”

“The La Grange Police Department has worked closely with school administrators throughout its investigation and will continue to purse leads as the case develops,” the release said.

On Thursday, a school employee who requested anonymity, said an email from Supt. Brian Waterman was “brief and (had) no information” other than “there was a fight.”

Waterman did not return two messages left Thursday and one on Friday seeking comment.

On Friday morning, La Grange Police Chief Robert Wardlaw said he was precluded from providing more information about the investigation because juveniles are involved.

Another source said the fight happened outside the school around 4 p.m. Monday, and that the severely injured youth had been rushed to a hospital.

His condition was not known.