Man charged after fight leaves relative blind

A Hammond man faces attempted murder charges after allegedly permanently blinding his cousin in at least one eye during a physical altercation.

Kevin J. Smith, 39, of the 6700 block of Northcote Avenue, was also charged March 11 with aggravated battery, battery resulting in serious bodily injury and theft of a firearm.

He paid off a $10,000 cash bond early this week. His next court date is March 30.

Police were called at 3:24 a.m. to a house on the 10000 block of Doubletree Drive North in Winfield where a man was lying in a driveway.

A witness said the pair had been drinking, court records state. The victim later told police Smith was “becoming violent” and he had tried to get him to leave.

Outside, Smith aggressively moved toward the man, according to Ring security footage. The victim put his hand out to keep some distance.

When Smith moved toward the man again, the victim pulled out a gun from his right pocket and beat Smith with it, charges allege. The victim then tripped and fell at some point.

Smith kicked him in the head 24 times before taking the gun and leaving, charges state.

The victim was taken to Franciscan Health, then the University of Chicago, then transferred again to another hospital, court documents said.

A nurse there told police the injuries were “catastrophic” and that he would be permanently blind in his left eye and possibly his right, according to court documents.

Smith was arrested after a search warrant was served at his Hammond house. He told police he threw the gun in a lake across from the Winfield house, documents allege.