CHICAGO – More than a year after a violent attack on the DePaul University campus, one of the accused assailants has admitted guilt. The incident involved Israeli Defense Forces Reserve Staff Sgt. Max Long and his friend, Michael Kaminsky, who were assaulted in broad daylight.
Adam Erkan, who faced charges of committing a felony hate crime, has been in custody since the attack. Recently, he pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of battery causing bodily harm. As a result, he received a sentence of two years of probation in addition to being required to complete 100 hours of community service.
ABC7 Chicago is now streaming 24/7. Click here to watch
The second individual involved in the attack has not yet been apprehended and remains at large.
Both Long and Kaminsky, who are Jewish students, have been vocal about their desire for the Chicago police to intensify efforts in locating the missing suspect. They have expressed their concerns in discussions with the ABC7 Chicago I-Team.
The assault occurred in broad daylight when the two masked men targeted Long and Kaminsky. During the attack, Long suffered a concussion after being knocked to the ground, while Kaminsky endured an injury that later required arm surgery.
That brazen daylight attack on the campus of DePaul, where a pair of masked men assaulted IDF soldier Long and Kaminsky knocked Long to the ground, giving him a concussion, and Kaminsky’s arm required surgery.
The I-Team was out on campus earlier this month, where there is no longer any visible private security presence.
In video from a year ago, you see Long and Kaminsky approached by two masked men and beaten before the men ran off.
READ MORE | 2nd suspect in attack against 2 Jewish DePaul students still at large; suspect appears in court for hate crime charges
DePaul University is asking for a judge to dismiss a legal case brought by Long and Kaminsky.
Long told the I-Team he is taking a leave of absence from his studies at DePaul because he says he’s faced continued threats on campus and in open court while waiting to hear an update in Erkan’s case.
“While waiting for them to call his docket, I get threatened by a friend of his, who, you know, telling me, I’m going to get what’s coming,” Long said. “It makes it impossible for me to feel comfortable on campus. What’s stopping that person from doing the same thing again?”
“If we’re not talking about it and we were victims of it, then who’s going to be talking about it for us? And I think it really starts with us,” said Kaminsky, who is set to graduate next year.
Chicago police recently said there were no updates, and the investigation is ongoing.
The video in the player above is from an earlier report.
