Eun Hee Chang was stabbed outside Louie’s Pizzeria in Elmhurst on March 26 (GoFundMe)
April 5, 2022 By Allie Griffin
A fundraiser for a 61-year-old woman who was robbed and stabbed outside an Elmhurst pizzeria last month has raised more than $92,000.
More than 2,300 people have donated money to a GoFundMe page set up three days ago to support Eun Hee Chang’s recovery after she was stabbed outside Louie’s Pizzeria on March 26.
Chang was walking near the pizza shop at 81-34 Baxter Ave. at around 9 p.m. that night when three men followed her, pushed her to the ground, stole her purse and stabbed her, police said.
She was ultimately helped by the owner of the pizzeria, Louie Suljovic, 37, and his 68-year-old father Cazim Suljovic who came out and chased down her attackers. The pair held down two of the three men until police arrived, but were stabbed in the scuffle.
Both Suljovics suffered stab wounds to their lungs and were taken to Elmhurst Hospital for treatment. A GoFundMe set up for the father and son a day after the attack has raised more than $733,400 for their medical expenses.
Now, the same person who set up the fundraiser for the Suljovics has created a second one for Chang, who was treated for her stab wound the night of the attack and returned to work as a home health aide the next day.
Chang – who left the scene of the attack before police arrived — hadn’t realized she was stabbed until she returned home and her landlord noticed she was bleeding heavily from her back, according to ABC7.
She went to the hospital where her wound was treated but soon left as she was afraid of missing work.
Chang returned to her job the very next day, the GoFundMe organizer Melanie Brussat wrote.
“Ms. Chang works as a home health aide in the Bronx and Brooklyn, physical work that involves lifting and assisting older and disabled people, cooking, and cleaning,” Brussat said in the GoFundMe description. “Showing incredible strength and humility, she has been working almost constantly since being attacked, resisting any of the attention that has come from this incredible story.”
Chang, who only speaks Korean, agreed to be the recipient of the donations, Brussat said, adding that she “deserves time to rest and recuperate from this horrific attack”.
Police have arrested Robert Whack, 30, and Supreme Gooding, 18, on charges of robbery, assault, gang assault and criminal possession of a weapon for the violent attack.
A third man remains at large.
