Police, firefighters and paramedics from Arlington Heights responded about 6:30 a.m. Thursday, April 30, 2026 to a report of a stabbing at the Park View apartments, 212 North Dunton Avenue in Arlington Heights. Upon arrival, police officers discovered two male victims injured with stab wounds. The police officers determined the scene was secure, and paramedics were moved up to begin treatment. Both male victims were transported to Northwest Community Hospital. One remained in the hospital over 24 hours after being stabbed.
The offender fled the scene, but was later apprehended when he surrendered at a parking lot at the Harvest Bible Church in Rolling Meadows. The St. John’s pre-school nearby was placed on locked down immediately after it was learned that the offender had fled the scene. Neither the Village of Arlington Heights nor the Arlington Heights Police Department put out an alert for the community for this violent crime with an “at large” offender, occurring during the morning rush hour where many commuters were heading for work.
According to the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office, the offender and the two victims were “hanging out” as friends with some other friends at a nearby park, and had gotten some food. The three of them then returned to one of the victim’s sixth floor apartment at 212 North Dunton Avenue in Arlington Heights, where the victim lived with his mother. The resident of the apartment slept in his own bed, and the two friends slept on a pull-out couch in the living room. Specifically, the other friend slept next to the offender “friend” on the pull-out couch in the living room.
At approximately 6:30 a.m., the victim sleeping on the couch, woke up, and used the bathroom, and smoked weed. He observed the offender wake up as well, and also observed the offender smoke weed. The victim who had been sleeping on the couch then went back to the couch and pulled a blanket over his head and tried to go back to sleep.
After a few minutes, the victim who was sleeping on the pull-out couch, felt something hitting his head and neck area. He tried to move, but his hands were stuck. When the victim finally shook away the blanket and got up, the offender was standing in front of him with a knife held out, and the offender was muttering under his breath.
The victim realized he was bleeding, and that he had been stabbed. As the victim on the couch started yelling, the offender took the knife and went into the other victim’s bedroom.
The victim in the bedroom woke up from the commotion in the living room. He jumped up when he saw the offender come into his room, and observed the offender advancing toward him with the knife. The offender repeatedly stabbed the apartment resident who had been sleeping in the bedroom. He stabbed him in the head and neck area. As the offender continuously stabbed the victim in the bedroom, he yelled in summary (but not verbatim), “You killed my family!” The victim then collapsed in the bedroom doorway as the result of the offender’s attack.
The mother of the victim in the bedroom arrived from another area of the apartment to find out what was happening. She discovered the offender with a knife, standing over her son. She grabbed the offenders hand as the offender continue to scream (not verbatim), “They killed my family!”
The victim’s mother was able to force the defendant out of the apartment, locked the door behind him, and called the police. The offender then fled the scene.
Police officers responded and met with the victims and the one victim’s mother. The victims were transported to area hospitals for treatment. The two victims had sustained multiple injuries, including lacerations to their heads, neck, and hands. One victim received 13 stitches and was released from the hospital. The victim that had slept on the couch was still admitted to the hospital over 24 hours later photo evidence of the victims’ injuries were collected.
Police officers observed a trail of blood leading out of the apartment unit. They canvassed the building, and the area outside the building for the offender. Due to safety concerns, the St. John’s preschool was placed on lockdown. Police officers were able to obtain the offender’s phone number, and called the offender. The offender answered his phone, when a police officer called, and provided his location as a parking lot at Harvest Bible Church, 800 South Rohlwing Road in Rolling Meadows. Police officers responded to the Harvest Bible church parking lot, and when they discovered the suspect, they observed him to have blood stains on his sweater and cuts on his hands. The police officers placed the suspect into custody, and recovered a pocket knife in his pocket. The pocket knife also had blood stains.
A review of available cameras in downtown Arlington Heights captured the suspect fleeing west along Northwest Highway. Detectives were able to quickly identify the suspect’s location near Northwest Highway and Route 53. Patrol officers responded to the area and took the offender in to custody, approximately one hour after the 911 call was received. A knife likely used during the stabbing was found in the offender’s pocket.
— Arlington Heights PD
The suspect, identified as Damian Engelmann, age 18 (homeless), has been charged with two counts of First Degree Attempted Murder. Damian Engelmann was ordered detained pre-trial, although the attorney public defender argued that he was not a threat to the general community because he was willing to cooperate and surrender to the police. The public defender attorney also indicated that Damian Engelmann was also attempting to get his high school diploma by enrolling at Barrington High School with online courses.
Court testimony indicated the suspect has a past history of mental health issues and was currently homeless. He previously lived in the block of 4400 Shorewood Court in Hoffman Estates.
The suspect Damian Engelmann has a criminal history of theft in 2025 and vehicular hijacking in 2026.
Judge Andreana Ann Turano, while denying the request by the public defender for pre-trial release, indicated the defendant’s inability to follow court orders of release from his previous two crimes of theft and vehicular hijacking.
The next court date for defendant Damian Engelmann is Friday, May 29, 2026 at 9:00 a.m.
There is also an appeal for revocation for pre-trial release on Wednesday, May 6, 2026.
DEVELOPING IF CONTENT IS AVAILABLE …
IMPORTANT …
Arlington Heights Police Department and Fire Department Dispatch is encrypted and cannot be monitored. Most incidents in Arlington Heights will only be published as breaking news thanks to dedicated and supportive citizens.
Two citizens submitted eyewitness reports, however, the real-time CARDINAL NEWS tip forms (see below) were not used. Thank you to these two citizens for their tips, which are important.
THERE ARE TWO MAIN OPTIONS TO SHARE YOUR EYEWITNESS REPORTS TO CARDINAL NEWS AND THE COMMUNITY: FASTEST and FAST
FASTEST: Easy Form – Easier Than Sending an Email
QUICK FORM FOR TIPS, PHOTOS, VIDEOS
FAST: Guided, Detailed Form for Comprehensive, Extra Details
DETAILED GUIDED FORM FOR TIPS, PHOTO, VIDEOS
All submissions are moderated, and may be edited or prohibited if not appropriate. CARDINAL NEWS reserves the right to delay or reject items that may cause security issues or privacy issues.
If you have a comment that you don’t want published, just type DO NOT PUBLISH at the beginning of the title.
For links to these forms and additional forms anytime …
Arlingtoncardinal.com/notifypanel/#enter-main-menu
Stay informed with news from The Cardinal’s Emergencies Behind the Scenes Facebook page — Facebook.com/CardinalEmergencies. Includes links to favorite public safety and emergency rescuers and product manufacturers and safety companies that have facebook pages. Submit your pictures or just stay up-to-date on with fire, rescue, EMS and police photo galleries. Please add your public safety photo to the wall album — go direct to the Arlington Cardinal Emergencies Behind the Scenes photos. For a list of all of The Cardinal Facebook fan pages, go to Arlingtoncardinal.com/about/facebook …
Help fund The Cardinal Arlingtoncardinal.com/sponsor
