An Elgin man has been indicted on hate crime charges for allegedly attacking a lesbian woman at a McDonald’s in Carpentersville last month, marking a major development in a case that sparked calls for justice from LGBTQ+ advocates across Illinois.
According to a May 27 press release from Kane County State’s Attorney Jamie Mosser, 19-year-old John Z. Kammrad, of Elgin, and a 16‑year‑old juvenile were indicted by a grand jury. The indictment includes charges of aggravated battery with great bodily harm, aggravated battery in a public place, mob action and a hate crime.
The charges stem from an assault on May 13 at the McDonald’s located at 1660 S. Kennedy Drive in Carpentersville.
Kady Grass, who was visiting with her 13-year-old cousin, told police the two suspects called her a derogatory slur referring to her sexual orientation and followed her out of the women’s restroom before physically attacking her, punching and kicking her to the ground.
Grass suffered severe injuries, including a fractured nose and eye hemorrhage, and was briefly knocked unconscious.
In publicly released statements, State’s Attorney Mosser reaffirmed that “everyone deserves to feel safe in public spaces,” underscoring the office’s decision to pursue charges to the “fullest extent of the law.”
Kammrad is currently held in DuPage County Jail on unrelated charges. His next hearing in Kane County is scheduled for June 27; the juvenile’s proceedings will proceed in juvenile court.