Quincy Bar Owner Charged With Felony In Attack On JT West Grad

Saulter Law Firm has maintained that Jazzpher "Jazz" Evans of Joliet was the victim of a hate crime perpetrated by the Quincy bar owner.

By John Ferak, Patch Staff

Apr 14, 2021 11:40 pm CDT | Updated Apr 15, 2021 10:55 am CDT

Jazzpher "Jazz" Evans grew up in Joliet and Shorewood and graduated in 2020 from Joliet West with a 3.8 GPA. She excelled as an athlete and scholar, according to her lawyer. (Saulter Law P.C. )

JOLIET, IL — WGN Channel 9 reported Wednesday night that Steven Homan, owner of the Quincy bar called The Barn, has been charged with a felony crime in connection with the April 4 attack that left 19-year-old Joliet West High School graduate Jazzpher "Jazz" Evans hospitalized.

WGN reported that Homan was charged with aggravated battery and that prosecutors have accused Homan of putting his arm around Evans’ neck and dragging her for 20 seconds.

Last week, The Saulter Law Firm

issued a news release saying Homan attacked Evans because she is Black. The suburban Chicago law firm is representing Evans.

"When Quincy Police Department Officers arrived on the scene—they never called for or offered Jazz medical attention—even though she after she had regained consciousness was visibly bleeding from her nose and wounds on her face and suffering from the effects of being unconscious for more than five minutes," a news release from The Saulter Firm outlined.

"As a result of Homan’s racist attack, Jazzpher sustained a traumatic brain injury, was rendered unconscious for at least five minutes, suffered multiple lacerations and cuts to her face, nose, hip, back and neck. Jazzpher is still receiving medical attention for her numerous injuries," her lawyers stated.

Last week, Joliet Patch reported that the president of Quincy University released a statement expressing his shock and outrage over the April 4 attack on Evans, who is a member of the Quincy University women's basketball team.

The 2020 graduate from Joliet West High School was hospitalized after being beaten inside a Quincy drinking establishment called The Barn.

Quincy University President Brian McGee announced that his university is cooperating with the Quincy Police Department to "do everything we can to make certain this assault is fully investigated," according to an article in Newsweek.

"Quincy University supports its students and will never tolerate violence targeting a student," McGee announced. " We will do everything we can to make certain this assault is fully investigated. We are committed to keeping our students safe, supporting our students, and protecting this community."