Chicago, Illinois – Authorities in Chicago are offering a $5,000 reward for any information leading to the arrest of individuals involved in a violent attack on an Iraq War veteran at a grocery store in the city’s South Loop. The attack, which occurred last week, left Kevin Qin, 41, with multiple injuries after being beaten by a group of at least eight people at a Jewel-Osco store on Wabash Avenue and Roosevelt Road on May 21. Qin was sucker-punched by a female shopper as he entered the store, leading to a vicious assault that left him briefly unconscious and with injuries including a concussion, damaged elbow, wrist, and knee.
Qin, a Chinese American war veteran, suspects the attack may have been racially motivated due to a racial comment made by the assailants during the incident. Community leaders and Qin are urging Chicago police to investigate the attack as a hate crime. One of the attackers allegedly made a derogatory comment about Qin’s ethnicity during the assault. Jewel-Osco store has provided surveillance footage to aid the investigation, while authorities continue to determine the motive behind the attack.
Following the assault, a bystander intervened to help Qin escape and call the police. He was subsequently taken to Stroger Hospital for treatment of his injuries. Recounting the ordeal, Qin described the attack as something he never thought he would experience, with multiple people ganging up on him in a vicious manner. The victim’s plea for justice has led to the announcement of a $5,000 reward to assist in capturing his assailants.
In light of the incident’s severity, the victim’s community and supporters are calling for a thorough investigation to ensure that justice is served. The violent assault on the Iraq War veteran has sparked outrage and concern among residents and advocates in Chicago, who are standing in solidarity with Qin as he seeks justice for the racially-motivated attack he endured. Police are actively working on the case and are yet to determine if the motive was indeed a hate crime. The search for the suspects involved in the attack continues, with authorities seeking any information that could lead to their apprehension.