Aftermath of Romeoville Party: Police Say Man Knocked Unconscious in Fight Over Money

This article was written by Patch Editor Shannon Antinori

A Plainfield teenager is accused of knocking another man unconscious in his own front yard early Sunday, police said.

Nathan C. Thomas, 18, of the 13000 block of Blackstone Drive, is charged with aggravated battery in a public place after the 21-year-old victim said he woke up in his front yard after being attacked — and had reason to suspect Thomas was the one who did it.

Plainfield Sgt. Mike Fisher said Thomas, the victim and a third man had been at a party in Romeoville earlier in the evening, then headed back to the victim's home on Stellar Lane in Plainfield.

"The next thing you know, [the victim] was knocked unconscious," Fisher said. The cause of the conflict?

"There was an argument over money that wasn't going to be repaid, and violence ensued," Fisher said. A family member took the victim for medical treatment, according to Fisher. The 21-year-old said he suffered a concussion in the attack, and told police he didn't remember the details.

"He said they got out of the car to smoke a cigarette, and he woke up 40 minutes later on his front lawn," Fisher said. When the man awoke, Thomas and the third person were gone, police said. Fisher said the man had injuries to his jaw consistent with being punched in the face.

Initially, Thomas denied that he was even with the victim the night of the incident. But during the investigation, Plainfield police learned that both men were involved in a traffic stop outside a house party in Romeoville. 

Fisher said Romeoville police confirmed that Thomas and the victim were pulled over as police responded to a report of a loud party with possible underage drinking. 

Thomas was arrested Sunday and charged with felony aggravated battery. Bond information for Thomas was not immediately available.