ABC7: Muslim American targeted in alleged hate crime outside Lombard cookie store
By Maher Kawash | ABC7
LOMBARD, Ill. (WLS) -- A 34-year-old man is now facing hate crime charges in connection with an incident that police say unfolded outside of Crave Cookies in west suburban Lombard on Friday.
Employees and the victim say the man yelled several racial slurs at them while he was apparently intoxicated. Justin Ward, of Lombard, is now facing a felony hate crime charge as well as an aggravated battery charge for this incident, which was caught on camera.
Video shows Ward harassing Ahmed Khan, a Muslim American who has lived in Lombard for more than a decade. Police say Ward followed Khan into Crave Cookies on Roosevelt Road on Friday night as Khan recorded him yelling racial slurs and allegedly spitting on him.
"I stood frozen in place, because I didn't want to escalate the action any further," Khan said.
Khan says Ward seemed to be intoxicated and got more aggressive with him, as well as the employees at the shop, while allegedly talking about the war in Iran. Khan says the man tried to get into a physical altercation with him, and he was worried for his own safety.
Then, as police responded, Ward ran away.
"I felt like he was going to slam that glass straight into my face, because any of these decisions can end really horribly," Khan said.
Police later arrested Ward at his home in Lombard. A judge then granted the state's motion to deny pre-trail release for Ward, so he will remain behind bars until trial.
"It was actually really shocking. I've never had something that racist occur to me," Khan said. "I want to thank the Lombard Police Department, because they've done a lot to help me really fast. I think justice was served really swiftly."
Khan says it is disturbing to be the victim of a hate crime and is worried about the possible rise of racially motivated attacks against Muslims as the conflict continues overseas.
The Council of American Islamic Relations also responded on Sunday night, saying they welcome the decision to pursue hate crime charges, and they urge other Muslim Americans to remain peaceful while documenting any potential attacks.
"Everyone thinks that Muslims especially will just act really violently, and I just wanted to give an example that we as Muslims don't do that. We're not out to fight anyone. We're not out to cause any issues," Khan said.
Ward is due in court on April 6.