2nd suspect in attack against 2 Jewish DePaul students still at large, officials say

CHICAGO (WLS) -- The ABC7 I-Team has been following IDF soldier Max Long since the first days of the Israel-Hamas war. He and his friend, Michael Kaminsky, were injured in a brazen attack back in November on the DePaul campus in what police are investigating as a hate crime.

Now the friends are focused on seeking justice against the second attacker.

ABC7 Chicago is now streaming 24/7. Click here to watch

Sitting in a Cook County courtroom Wednesday, the victims saw the suspect's face without a mask for the first time in person. The man is accused of attacking Long and Kaminsky after the two say they were advocating for peaceful dialogue about the war in Gaza.

"It was strange seeing him without a ski mask for a first time," Long told the I-Team. "While they want to talk and try to work toward some sort of deal, I really feel that it is so important that we address the fact that the second attacker has still not been brought to justice."

Adam Erkan is still being held in jail after a status hearing Wednesday. His suspected accomplice in the attack remains at large.

"This person is still roaming the streets of Chicago... there's definitely somebody out there who knows who he is," Kaminsky said. "There definitely needs to be a message that we will not tolerate hate against any community. We will not tolerate anybody who tries to advocate for their cause through physical violence."

In video from November of last year, Long and Kaminsky were approached by two masked men and beaten before the men ran off. The two students were left to fend for themselves. Police are investigating this as a hate crime.

Attorney Gerard Filliti with the Lawfare Project is representing both injured men. Speaking about the second suspect in the crime, he said it's "unconscionable that no action has been taken."

In a statement to the I-Team, Erkan's attorney, who is Jewish, says he was initially reluctant to take the case, but met with Erkan and found him to be "a really good and respectful young man." He went on to say Erkan knew two months prior to his arrest that he would be taken into custody and did not flee, stating "My hope is that this matter can be resolved in short order so that Adam may return to college and make the most of his life."

Since the attack, the two victims have advocated for more support for Jewish students on university campuses, even attending hearings on the matter in Congress.

However, Filliti says this is an issue of civil rights, "Ultimately this isn't just about the Jewish community. When one minority community's rights are neglected and violated all of them suffer."

Long and Kaminsky say they are still in talks with DePaul on how to improve safety on campus for Jewish students and have filed a lawsuit against the university. The I-Team reached out to DePaul but did not hear back.

Chicago police said there are no updates at this time and that Erkan remains the only individual who has been arrested in the investigation as it remains open.