By JAMES MITCHELL
Sunday Times Newspapers
LINCOLN PARK — No serious wounds were inflicted, but a 26-year-old Lincoln Park man faces felony assault charges after attacking two teenagers with a large sword and staging a brief standoff with police.
John K. Maranian was arraigned Thursday before 25th District Court Judge David Zelenak, and faces up to four years in prison if convicted of felonious assault.
Police were called to the 1700 block of Morris shortly after 9 p.m. Tuesday, and were told by a crowd that had gathered at a street corner that Maranian stabbed a teenage neighbor with a sword estimated at three feet in length, and then ran into a house. Two women were believed to be in the house, and police set up a perimeter and spoke to witnesses.
A 17-year-old told police that earlier that day Maranian yelled at and tried to hit his sister with a sword; the teen confronted Maranian, and he and a friend were chased by the sword-swinging suspect. Police noted a 3-to 4-inch gash near the 17-year-old’s shoulder that was bleeding.
Two other witnesses told police they had witnessed Maranian chasing the teens, yelling “come back here” and swinging the sword.
After Maranian was back inside, a crowd gathered on the sidewalk, and Maranian opened the door at least once to yell at the gathered group. Not long after, two women who were inside the house walked outside and began yelling at the witnesses. Police spoke with them, at least one of whom did not cooperate with investigators and said she was asleep when everything happened.
One of the women told police that two children ages 5 and 8 were inside, as well as her boyfriend.
Maranian’s parents arrived at the house, and with the cooperation of Lincoln Park police called Maranian on the phone. After a brief conversation, Maranian exited and surrendered without incident. Police removed three swords from the house.
The children were placed in custody of their grandparents by Child Protective Services.
Maranian is scheduled for a preliminary exam May 22. Bond was set at $100,000 cash; if secured, Maranian is to have no contact with the complainant, is prohibited from consuming alcohol and may not possess a weapon of any kind.
(James Mitchell can be reached at [email protected].)