Prosecutors have filed hate crime charges against a Hoffman Estates man, saying he was one of the individuals who attacked DePaul University students who expressed support for Israel last year.
In a recently filed lawsuit against DePaul, student Max Long claims he suffered a concussion in the attack and Michael Kaminsky alleges he suffered a broken wrist during the incident.
Video cameras allegedly recorded Adam Erkan, 20, arriving on DePaul’s Lincoln Park campus in a vehicle about an hour before the November 6 attack. Prosecutors said he subsequently put on a ski mask and approached a student who was wearing a pro-Israel shirt and carrying a sign inviting people to “talk about Israel with an [Israel Defense Forces] soldier” outside the school’s student center, 2250 North Sheffield.
After a lengthy conversation, one of Erkan’s companions knocked Long unconscious, prosecutors said Thursday. Another DePaul student stepped in, and Erkan allegedly pulled him off and pushed him to the ground.
Chicago police investigators determined that Erkan arrived at the school in a car owned by his father, who subsequently identified his son in surveillance images, according to prosecutors. CPD also released surveillance images last November of two suspects wanted in connection with the incident.
Prosecutors asked Judge James Costello to detain Erkan to await trial on two counts of hate crime and two counts of aggravated battery causing great bodily harm. The judge agreed.
Erkan has no criminal history.
