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Journalist, EMT Dies Months After Racially Motivated Attack

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Amber Athey Podcast Columnist
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Jerry Wolkowitz, a freelance journalist and EMT, died on Thursday months after he was attacked for being a “white man.”

Wolkowitz, 56, was attacked in New Jersey on May 1 by 26-year-old Jamil S. Hubbard.

“[Wolkowitz] was punched in the head and then dragged into the parking lot before being run over by a Chevrolet Malibu. His blue Kia Forte was then stolen,” the Asbury Park Press reported.

Police found Wolkowitz with extensive head injuries and shattered bones.

Hubbard was originally charged with attempted murder, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose and bias intimidation, and a grand jury later added armed robbery, eluding and theft.

Assistant Monmouth County Prosecutor Keri-Leigh Schaefer said Hubbard chose his victim because “he was a white man” and wanted to kill him because of his race.

A Facebook page seeking donations for Wolkowitz revealed that he passed away after experiencing kidney failure.

In a post made on Sept. 9, Wolkowitz’s sister described the extent of her brother’s injuries:

“Basically, he remains in a persistent vegetative state, has had a shunt placed in his brain due to increased fluid, is dependent on tube feeds, has had 5 infections (3 bouts of pneumonia with sepsis). Any infection for Jerry could be potentially life threatening. He Has had a peritoneal drain placed for increased level of fluid in his abdomen due to inflammation from his shattered hips. Add to that, he now developed Adult Respiratory Distress Syndrome and needs 100% oxygen and max ventilatory settings.”

Wolkowitz was a freelance journalist who contributed frequently to the Asbury Park Press and was the son of Holocaust survivors.

“Jerry is the type of person that would be more happy helping other people than he would be worrying about himself,” Eddie Parze, a friend of Wolkowitz, said. “The type of person who would go out of his way for others, wouldn’t expect anything in return.”

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