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No Bail for Man Charged in Fatal Chinatown Stabbing

By Erica Demarest | November 23, 2016 5:51pm | Updated on November 25, 2016 8:41am

COOK COUNTY CRIMINAL COURTHOUSE — A Chinatown man was held without bail Wednesday after a stabbing that killed one man and wounded two.

According to prosecutors, Raul Gonzalez, 36, lived with the victims in a transient apartment in the 200 block of West 23rd Street.

About 7:30 p.m. Monday, Gonzalez got into an argument with a 44-year-old roommate, who believed Gonzalez was acting belligerently, Assistant State's Attorney Jamie Santini said during a bond hearing Wednesday.

Gonzalez punched the 44-year-old multiple times, prosecutors said, until several roommates soon broke up the fight.

The men continued to argue, Santini said. That's when Gonzalez brandished a 10-inch blade and began to stab the 44-year-old man in his head multiple times, Santini said.

The victim tried to fight off Gonzalez with a trash can, prosecutors said, as multiple roommates tried to intervene in the fight.

At that point, Gonzalez stabbed Zenan "Sonny" Hernandez multiple times in his head, body and hand, Santini said. Both victims armed themselves with knives and began to stab Gonzalez as he continued to swing and stab at them, according to prosecutors.

During the altercation, a 24-year-old man was stabbed in his groin, Santini said.

The victims were eventually able to flee the apartment, at which point Gonzalez stabbed Hernandez in his back, prosecutors said. Hernandez collapsed outside and was later pronounced dead.

Gonzalez, who is from Mexico, has no prior criminal history, prosecutors said. He is charged with murder and aggravated battery using a deadly weapon.

Cook County Judge Donald Panarese Jr. ordered him held in lieu of $2 million bail.

There was no mug shot of Gonzalez due to his stabbing injuries.

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