Saturday, around 7:30 p.m., Wilkowski was sitting on his beloved red and white motor-scooter, which he refers to as his "2-wheel-friend", when he was assaulted near Northwestern University's Wieboldt Hall campus at 339 East Chicago Avenue.
One of the 15 to 20 offenders threw a ball and struck Wilkowski's bike helmet. The impact was so forceful, it knocked his protective headgear off his head.
Then, Wilkowski was dragged into the street, where he wrestled with one his attackers.
Although he sustained several bumps and bruises, Wilkowski was not seriously injured; nor has he lost his sense of humor.
Here's what he said during a brief interview with Chicago News Report:
Timothy Fitz: Did your attackers say anything to you before, during, or after the assault?
Krzysztof Wilkowski: They yelled "grab his phone!" and some profanities.
Timothy Fitz: Has this incident changed the way you feel about being downtown?
Krzysztof Wilkowski: Not really. I will still go there.
Timothy Fitz: What's your secret to remaining so upbeat after this horrific incident?
Krzysztof Wilkowski: Polish food and good weather.
Timothy Fitz: Krzysztof, I like your style. Your positive attitude is commendable. More importantly, I am glad you are okay. In retrospect, is there anything you would do differently on the day you were attacked?
Krzysztof Wilkowski: I would definitely reconsider the shoes I purchased at Nordstrom's downtown Chicago store. The sales tax was 11%!
At last count, seven to ten suspects have been arrested in connection with Saturday's downtown gang violence.
Yesterday, police released photos of three suspects in custody.
17-year-old Dvonte Sykes was charged with two felony counts of robbery and one count of mob action violence.
17-year-old Trovolus Pickett and 18-year-old Derodte Wright were charged with a robbery on the 300 block of East Chicago Avenue.
Is this guy still in shock? How can he be this upbeat. And how can he not know what the sales tax is???
ReplyDeleteI think it's great you actually interviewed him, Timothy, but this really isn't funny. It's all good to have an upbeat attitude but when something this traumatic happens to someone and they can joke about it, they're not paying attention to the crime all over this city. And don't tell me this isn't a traumatizing event that one just forgets. NO WAY! Maybe it's comical to him because he doesn't appear to live in the city so it's no big deal to him. He can leave and not have to worry about it while the rest of us are on guard now.
ReplyDeleteNot funny at all
I think it is commendable that this gentleman refuses to be subdued, either physically, or psychologically.
ReplyDeleteTowanda, I don't think the victim thinks what happened to him is funny. I think he is processing what happened, in his own way.
ReplyDeleteHere's an interesting note. I asked Wilkowski if he thought his attack was racially motivated. That is the only question he did not answer.
I sure hope he doesn't think this was funny.
ReplyDeleteJust had on the ABC7 news about yet ANOTHER mob attack tonight at Chicago & Wabash. 15 ghetto thugs beating up 2 guys. They clearly are not afraid of the police or getting arrested. Bring in the National Guard and give us CONCEAL CARRY!
T., they didn't just beat their victims; one of the men was robbed.
ReplyDeleteHere's my report on the robbery at Chicago and Wabash: http://www.chicagonewsreport.com/2011/06/man-robbed-blocks-away-from.html
ReplyDeleteRight. I saw that one:) Wonder why the witness they interviewed said "15 guys beating up on 2 people?" Maybe he was talking about the other mob attacks. It's gonna be a long, hot costly summer.
ReplyDeleteI am not disputing the ABC's coverage. At the time of my report, police were still gathering information.
ReplyDeleteHowever, I did receive several emails indicating a flash mob gang attack occurred at that location.
This trend is part of community organizing...scare whitey away so they can take over, like the late sixties when the first great white flight occurred....except this time, its brand new condos built by spec developers with private money...same thing just different angle. Thank Obama and Bill Ayers for this kind of Community Organizing.
ReplyDeletethe black leaders are silent because these animals are doing exactly what they were instructed to do.
ReplyDeleteyou are mad because nobody is giving into your demands. who are black leaders? you don't select leaders for blacks so wo are you talikng about? the animal is out the corner now and chicago is feeling the raft.
ReplyDeletei am one out of the two kids that did get beat up on Tuesday night (the 7th) and honestly i am discusted by what happened to me and everyone else chicago is my hometown and now since this incident i'm worried to go downtown this can happen to anyone of us
ReplyDelete