Murder charges dropped against Elgin man in October stabbing

Murder charges have been dropped against an 18-year-old man who stabbed another man to death in a northwest suburban park in 2014 after prosecutors determined he acted in self-defense.

William Donald, 18, was initially charged with two counts of first-degree murder in connection with the death of 21-year-old Anthony Nunez last October, according to the Kane County state’s attorney’s office.

However, after reviewing the case, Kane County State’s Attorney Joe McMahon found that Donald was acting in self-defense and the charges were dismissed Tuesday, according to a statement from prosecutors.

“I extend my sincerest condolences to Anthony Nunez’s family. I have spoken with them about our decision, and understandably this was not welcome news to them,” McMahon said in the statement.

“We took this case very seriously. A young man is dead, and we know how he died. It is not easy to walk away from such cases. But when the law is applied to the facts of this incident, the just decision is to dismiss the charges against Mr. Donald.” McMahon said in the statement.

On the afternoon of Oct. 27, 2014, Nunez and two friends approached Donald and his friends at Eagle/Burnridge Park in the 1800 block of Natchez Trace in Elgin, according to prosecutors.

Nunez and one of his friends had threatened Donald with a knife and robbed him at the same park about a month earlier, prosecutors said. Nunez intimidated Donald’s friends into backing away, confronted and attacked him.

Prosecutors said during the attack, Donald pulled a knife and stabbed Nunez multiple times. One of Nunez’s friends stole Donald’s backpack during the confrontation.

Nunez was taken to an Elgin hospital, where died of the stab wounds, authorities said.

On Dec. 12, 2014, Donald’s bond was reduced to $100,000 from $5 million “when it became clear that Donald had a valid defense to the charges,” prosecutors said. He posted bond that day and was released on electronic home monitoring.

The investigation found Donald was afraid of Nunez and began carrying a knife after he was robbed.