Man Charged With Beating Squatters With Sledgehammer

Updated: October 14, 2010, 2:47 p.m.

CHICAGO (STMW) - A southwest suburban man was ordered held on $1 million bond Thursday for allegedly beating two women squatters with a sledgehammer -- and breaking the hammer on one of the women before beating her with his fists on Tuesday, prosecutors said.

Prosecutors said the man was angry at the women about the use of his van.

Felix Amparano, 31, of Oak Lawn, is charged with two counts of attempted murder, two counts of aggravated battery causing great bodily harm, and one count of armed robbery, police said.

On Thursday, Judge Donald Panarese ordered Amparano held on $1 million bond and set a preliminary hearing for Oct. 19, Cook County State's Attorney's office spokesman Andy Conklin said.

The attack on the two women happened inside a building at the intersection of 47th Street and Seeley Avenue. Police responded to a call of domestic battery and heard moaning and screaming from a kitchen window.

It happened about 8:15 a.m. after Amparano and the two women got into an argument over his van, court records indicated. Amparano became enraged and attacked the women with a sledgehammer.

The first woman, who was still unconscious, was found in a chair in an apartment covered in blood, prosecutors said.

Amparano broke the sledgehammer while attacking the second victim and after that, continued to beat her with his fists, court records said.

Neighbors heard their screams and called police. Officers knocked, but couldn't get inside because both of the doors were locked, a police report said.

When they saw a "very bloody'' Amparano walk out the back of the building with scratches to his face and hand, they stopped him and he allegedly said, "They started it,'' according to the report.

Inside, officers found the victims -- one lying in the room adjacent to the kitchen and the other lying in the bedroom. Both were bloody and going in and out of consciousness, according to the report.

A window was broken and blood was found on pieces of glass, and "all over" the mattress, floor and wall of the bedroom, according to the report. A hammer and a pair of scissors were lying next to one of the victims.

Wentworth Area detectives are investigating.

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